Inter Miami CF expressed its condolences to Lionel Messi this Saturday following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, who died early in the morning at the Sanatorio Centro de Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68.
The club posted a message on its social media with a black background, as a sign of mourning, alongside the team's crest and the personal emblem of the Argentine star.
"Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family," the club wrote on its Instagram story, in a gesture that summarized the institutional support for the player during one of the most difficult moments of his life.
The team also relieved Messi of the obligation to play that night in the Leagues Cup match against Monterrey so that he could travel to Argentina immediately.
The captain departed from Fort Lauderdale and his arrival in Rosario was expected between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM local time, according to reports from Argentinian media covering the passing.
The wake was held in an intimate and private manner.
Jorge Messi passed away at 2:00 AM. Sanatorio Centro issued an official statement confirming the death, although the cause was not specified for privacy reasons.
Specialized media reported that he was suffering from a prolonged illness: during the World Cup in June 2026, the family had stated that his condition was improving, but his health deteriorated in the following weeks until his death.
The news shook the football world. CONMEBOL expressed its "deep sorrow" over the passing. The Argentine Football Association, led by Claudio Tapia, conveyed its condolences for "the father of our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi."
The Argentina National Team published a brief but heartfelt "Strength, Leo." Newell's Old Boys, the Rosario club that Jorge was associated with as a youth player and where Lionel took his first steps, bid farewell "with deep sorrow and regret."
FC Barcelona also issued official condolences, recalling the family's historic connection to the Catalan club. Other teams, such as Real Madrid, Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Rosario Central, joined in the wave of messages.
The AFA declared a moment of silence, black armbands, and flags at half-mast in all stadiums as a sign of mourning.
Jorge Messi was much more than the father of the best footballer in the world. He was his first coach at the Grandoli club in Rosario, his representative for over two decades, and the architect of an unprecedented career. He worked in a metal factory to support the family before Lionel emerged as a talent.
When the boy was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, Jorge accompanied the family to Barcelona so he could receive treatment and join the Catalan club.
Since then, he managed contracts, business agreements, and public relations for his son, being regarded as his most trusted person off the field.
Lionel Messi, who renewed his contract with Inter Miami until 2028 in October 2025, was in Miami when the news arrived. The club, which won the MLS Cup in December of that same year with the Argentine as a central figure, did not hesitate to prioritize the family mourning over any sporting commitment.
The match against Monterrey will be played without its captain, who traveled to bid farewell to someone who was, before being his representative, his first teacher in football.
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