Jorge Messi, the father of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, has passed away at the age of 68 following a prolonged battle with health issues, according to reports from multiple Argentine media outlets.
A Family’s Private Battle
The news follows months of quiet concern surrounding Jorge Messi’s health. Whispers of his declining condition first intensified in June during the World Cup, when an emotional Lionel Messi was seen crying after scoring for Argentina against Algeria. When questioned about his tears, the Inter Miami star clarified that his emotions had ‘absolutely nothing to do with football,’ hinting at the ‘difficult days’ his family was enduring.
In response to rampant media speculation at the time, the Messi family released a statement confirming Jorge’s medical struggles while pleading for privacy. The family criticized the lack of sensitivity and respect shown by some media outlets, emphasizing that Jorge was under medical supervision while urging the public to respect their personal space during a highly private family matter.
A Pillar of Support
Jorge Messi played an instrumental role in Lionel’s historic career, famously serving as his manager and guiding his transition from Rosario to Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia. Throughout Lionel’s rise to becoming arguably the greatest football player of all time, Jorge remained a steadfast, protective figure in his life.
In late July, Lionel Messi skipped the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game, a decision widely believed to have been made so he could spend precious time with his ailing father. He briefly returned to action for Inter Miami shortly thereafter before his father’s passing.
Tributes have already begun pouring in from across the global sports community, expressing deep condolences to Lionel Messi and his family during this period of immense grief.