Lionel Messi’s father and long-time representative, Jorge Messi, has died at the age of 68, according to Argentine media reports.
Jorge reportedly died at about 10pm on Friday at a sanatorium in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness, Argentine news outlet Infobae reported, as cited by MARCA on Saturday.
A check by PUNCH Online on Infobae and other media reports also confirmed the news.
Jorge was married to Celia Cuccittini, and the couple had four children — Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.
He played a pivotal role in the development of Lionel’s career, particularly during the Barcelona captain’s formative years.
Jorge was instrumental in helping the young Messi access growth hormone treatment after efforts to secure the necessary medical care in Argentina proved unsuccessful.
He subsequently helped facilitate Lionel’s move to Barcelona at the age of 13, a decision that would change the course of the youngster’s life and football career.
Jorge later relocated temporarily to Spain with his son during the early and challenging stages of Lionel’s European adventure, while the rest of the family remained in Rosario.
Reflecting on those difficult years in a 2007 interview, Messi recalled how his father stood firmly by him when the family faced uncertainty over his future.
“My old man was always by my side. We lived through many bad moments,” Messi said.
According to the football star, his father eventually asked him whether he wanted to continue pursuing his dream in Spain or return home.
“My old man asked me, what do you want to do, do you want to continue or shall we go back? I wanted to continue and he stayed with me,” Messi recalled.
That decision proved pivotal as Messi went on to establish himself at Barcelona and become one of the most decorated footballers in the history of the sport.
Beyond his role as a father, Jorge became a central figure in managing Messi’s affairs off the pitch, including contract negotiations and commercial partnerships with major global brands.
His influence remained significant throughout his son’s career as Lionel evolved from a promising teenager in Rosario into an international football icon and captain of Argentina.
Jorge’s death marks the loss of a figure who played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in one of football’s most remarkable success stories.
