Lionel Messi bid farewell to his father, Jorge, in a closed, private family funeral in the city of Rosario, far from the media and photographers’ cameras. This decision was made in strict accordance with the family’s desire to maintain their privacy during these difficult moments.
Jorge Messi passed away at the age of 68 in a Rosario hospital following a health crisis that had already prevented him from attending his son’s matches during the 2026 World Cup. The medical institution withheld the exact cause of death out of respect for the family’s privacy.
Messi missed Inter Miami‘s Leagues Cup match against Monterrey after traveling to Argentina. The American club honored his father by observing a minute of silence before kickoff, displaying his picture alongside his birth and death dates on the stadium’s giant screens.
The Argentine national team captain arrived in his hometown on a private jet from Miami to gather with his mother, Celia Cuccittini, his siblings, and his close family circle, opting against any public memorial service.
Jorge played a pivotal role in his son’s legendary career. He managed his professional affairs from a very young age, spearheaded the negotiations for his historic move to FC Barcelona at the age of 13, and remained his agent and one of his closest advisors until his passing.
In response to the tragic news, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced a minute of silence and the wearing of black armbands across its matches. Furthermore, Barcelona, Newell’s Old Boys, and numerous football stars mourned Messi’s father with deeply moving messages of condolences.
