Lionel Messi’s Father, Jorge Messi, Dies Aged 68

Key Points

• Jorge Messi, the long-time agent for Argentina captain Lionel Messi, passed away last night at the age of 68.
• He died in a medical centre in his native city of Rosario, Argentina, after a lengthy illness on Friday night.
• Lionel Messi’s boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys,s was among the first teams to say they were mourning the death of the Argentine in a statement.
• Football’s governing body, CONMEBOL, the South American Football Federation, also extended condolences to the Messi family.
• His son, Jorge Messi, was his agent for many years and took him to Barcelona, where he joined his youth academy in the early 2000’s.
• The Messi family had maintained his illness mostly in secret, though it was finally revealed when he was undergoing medical treatment during the 2026 World Cup.
• Lionel Messi was clearly emotional after his first goal in Argentina’s World Cup opening game against Algeria, soon connecting the dots with issues off the pitch.
• Jorge Messi is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and his four children: Rodrigo, Matías, Lionel and María Sol.
• The family has not officially released the cause of his death.
• Football institutions and players known to the Messi family have been paying their respects to the star since the announcement on Saturday.

Rosario (Britain Today News) August 8, 2026 – Jorge Messi, the father of Inter Miami and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, died on Friday night at a medical centre in Rosario, his home city in central Argentina, after battling a long-term illness. He was 68. Newell’s Old Boys, the club where Lionel Messi began his football journey, confirmed the death in a statement on social media, describing Jorge as a devoted supporter of the club, a businessman and the father of Argentina’s captain. The news was subsequently corroborated by numerous outlets across Argentina and Spain.

Who was Jorge Messi?

Jorge Horacio Messi was best known as the father and, for many years, the official agent of Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Away from football, Jorge trained as a chemical technician and worked in a steel factory in Rosario before relocating his family to Europe when Lionel joined Barcelona’s youth academy in 2000. In his younger years, Jorge himself played as a midfielder and progressed through Newell’s Old Boys’ youth ranks, though he was forced to abandon the sport to complete his mandatory military service in Argentina.

How did Jorge Messi die?

Jorge Messi died at around 22:00 local time on Friday at a clinic named Grupo Centro in Rosario, according to reports from Argentina and Spain, including Infobae and El Español. He had reportedly been receiving treatment for an unspecified illness in the months leading up to his death. The Messi family has not publicly disclosed the exact cause of death, and no further details were immediately released.

What did Newell’s Old Boys say about Jorge Messi’s death?

Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario-based club that remains closely associated with the Messi family, was the first institution to confirm Jorge’s passing. In a statement posted on social media, the club said it was bidding farewell “with deep sorrow and grief” to Jorge Messi, describing him as a recognised supporter of the club and a businessman. As reported by Al Jazeera, the club added that Jorge’s

“constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel.”

The statement went on to extend condolences to Jorge’s wife, Celia, and his four children, and offered a final farewell in the language of the club’s fanbase, referring to him as one of their own.

What role did Jorge Messi play in Lionel Messi’s career?

Jorge Messi played a central and often understated role in shaping his son’s career. He served for years as Lionel’s agent and was responsible for managing many of his business affairs, including image rights and sponsorship arrangements, long before Lionel became a global superstar. It was Jorge who travelled with a young Lionel to Barcelona for the trial that would open the doors to La Masia, the Catalan club’s renowned youth academy, a turning point that set his son on the path towards becoming one of football’s most decorated players. Lionel Messi made his professional debut for Barcelona in 2005 and went on to captain Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.

What did CONMEBOL say about Jorge Messi’s death?

The South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, also issued a statement offering condolences to the Messi family following news of Jorge’s death. As reported by SportBible, the organisation wrote on social media that it wished to

“accompany Lionel, his family, friends, and loved ones with respect and affection”

during this period of grief, adding that it hoped Jorge Messi would rest in peace. The message reflects the standing Jorge held within South American football circles, largely through his association with his son’s career and his lifelong ties to Newell’s Old Boys.

How did Lionel Messi hint at his father’s illness during the World Cup?

Signs of a difficult period for the Messi family had already surfaced during the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi became visibly emotional after scoring in Argentina’s opening match of the tournament against Algeria, a reaction he later said extended beyond football. According to a report carried by WSLS, Messi told reporters afterwards that his family had been going through “difficult, complicated days” in the period surrounding the tournament, while thanking his teammates and coaching staff for their support. A week later, the Messi family issued a statement confirming that Jorge had been receiving medical care and was described at the time as recovering favourably.

What has Lionel Messi said about his father in the past?

Jorge Messi’s influence on his son extended well beyond the boardroom. In comments reported by Al Jazeera, Lionel Messi once said that he had always sought his father’s approval from childhood, adding that he would ask Jorge for his opinion after every match. In a separate interview with Radio del Plata cited by WSLS, Messi reflected on the emotional toll of the family’s early years in Barcelona, recalling that he would sometimes shut himself in his room to cry when the family first arrived in Spain, saying.

“My dad was always by my side.”

These recollections illustrate the closeness between father and son throughout a career that took the family from Rosario to some of the biggest stages in world football.
Explore More about Sports:
Kyle Ryde Smashes Lap Record for 250GP Victory
Daniel Ransom Praises Team England Futures

Who survives Jorge Messi?

Jorge Messi is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and their four children: Rodrigo, Matías, Lionel and María Sol. The Newell’s Old Boys statement specifically extended its condolences to each family member by name, reflecting the club’s long association with the Messi household in Rosario. Lionel Messi is the youngest of the three Messi brothers and the third of Jorge and Celia’s four children.

Where and when did Jorge Messi die?

Jorge Messi died on Friday night in Rosario, the city in Santa Fe province where he was born, raised his family and maintained close ties throughout his life, despite his son’s career taking the family across Europe and, more recently, to the United States. Rosario remains closely tied to the Messi story, as the birthplace of Lionel Messi and the home of Newell’s Old Boys, the club where his footballing journey began. Lionel Messi had reportedly spent time with his father in Argentina after the World Cup before returning to action for Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer club he currently represents.

What is Jorge Messi’s legacy in football?

Beyond his role as an agent, Jorge Messi is remembered by many in Argentine football as a steady, largely private presence who shielded his son from the pressures of fame during his formative years. His decision to relocate the family to Barcelona in 2000, at considerable personal and financial risk, is widely regarded as one of the pivotal moments in the story of Lionel Messi’s rise to the top of world football. Tributes from Newell’s Old Boys and CONMEBOL in the hours following his death underlined the extent to which his contribution, though rarely in the public eye, was recognised within the sport.