Lionel Messi [Getty Images]
Lionel Messi [Getty Images]

Jorge Messi, the lifelong supporter and father of football icon Lionel Messi (39), has died at 68.

Jorge passed away around 2 a.m. Saturday at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, after a prolonged illness, according to Argentine dailies Clarín, Infobae and Olé.

The word that best describes Jorge is both "agent" and "father." He was neither a professional manager nor a sports business expert, yet he guided his son's career with an unshakable belief in Lionel's talent, sharp instincts and a quiet discretion that kept him largely out of the public eye.

That conviction proved decisive in 2000, when Lionel was 13.

The young Messi needed growth hormone treatment, but the family struggled to sustain the cost in Argentina. Jorge pushed for his son's move to Europe and played a pivotal role in securing a contract with FC Barcelona that covered not only the treatment but also housing and living expenses for the entire family.

When a young Messi struggled to adjust to life in an unfamiliar Spain, Jorge stayed by his side. Even after part of the family returned to Rosario, he remained in Barcelona with his 13-year-old son.

"During those hard times, my father kept asking me whether I wanted to keep playing football or go back home," Messi recalled in a 2022 interview. "I wanted to keep going, and he stayed with me."

The Argentine Football Association, the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the clubs Messi has represented all issued condolences. Newell's Old Boys of Rosario said Jorge's "unwavering companionship and quiet leadership supported every step Messi took."

Messi delivered a standout performance to lead Argentina to the runner-up finish at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup even as he privately struggled with his father's deteriorating health during the tournament. He spent time with his father before rejoining his club, Inter Miami, last week.


min3654@heraldcorp.com