Lionel Messi has suffered one of the hardest shocks of his life following the death of his father and agent, Jorge Messi, who passed away at the age of 68 after a prolonged battle with illness.
Jorge passed away at 10:00 PM local time on Friday in a hospital in the Argentine city of Rosario. The heartbreaking news was subsequently confirmed by Newell’s Old Boys.
The Argentina captain’s father had been undergoing treatment for several months. While the family maintained strict privacy regarding the exact nature of his illness, Spanish reports suggested he had been suffering from advanced-stage cancer.
Jorge’s Illness and Messi’s Tears at the 2026 World Cup
Lionel Messi’s deep emotional distress was visible during the Argentina vs. Algeria match—the opening game for both teams at the 2026 World Cup. The Argentine superstar broke down in tears after scoring his first goal of the match.
Messi scored a hat-trick to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory, but he clarified post-match that his tears were not related to football, explaining that he had been going through incredibly difficult days on a personal level.
Two days later, the Messi family released a statement announcing that Jorge was experiencing a health crisis and was under medical supervision. They urged the media to act with “responsibility, caution, and humanity.”
This statement came after cruel and false rumors of Jorge’s death circulated during the World Cup, which heavily multiplied the psychological pressure on Messi, who continued to represent his country despite the agonizing family circumstances. At the time, the family clarified that Jorge’s condition was stabilizing according to the nature of his illness, before his health later deteriorated, leading to his passing in his hometown of Rosario.
The Man Who Built Messi’s Career Off the Pitch
Jorge was not just a father to the Argentine icon; he was the most influential figure in his off-pitch career, managing his business affairs since Lionel was just 14 years old.
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Humble Beginnings: Jorge worked in a steel mill in Rosario before dedicating his life to his son’s generational talent. He accompanied Lionel on his fateful journey to Spain, relocating to Barcelona when the prodigy was just 13.
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The Barcelona Breakthrough: He played a pivotal role in the negotiations that led to Messi joining Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, securing the Catalan club’s agreement to cover the costs of his son’s growth hormone deficiency treatment.
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A Lifelong Partnership: From that moment on, Jorge managed all of his son’s contracts, renewals, and sporting and commercial decisions. He remained his primary representative throughout the legendary Barcelona era, the transition to Paris Saint-Germain, and the move to Inter Miami.
Their relationship evolved into a lifelong partnership that spanned Messi’s extraordinary career. Jorge’s passing represents a profound personal and professional loss for the player, who always credited his father as one of the fundamental pillars of his success.
