Jorge Messi, father and longtime representative of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68.
According to Spanish newspaper MARCA, citing Argentine outlet Infobae, Jorge died at about 10pm on Friday at a medical facility in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness.
Jorge was married to Celia Cuccittini, and the couple had four children — Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.
Beyond being the father of one of football’s most celebrated players, Jorge played a significant role in shaping and managing Lionel Messi’s career from his early childhood.
He was instrumental in helping the young Messi access medical treatment after he was diagnosed with a growth-related condition. When securing the necessary treatment in Argentina became difficult, Jorge helped arrange his son’s move to Barcelona at the age of 13.
Jorge accompanied Lionel to Spain during the early and challenging stages of his career, while other members of the family remained in Rosario.
Messi later spoke about the sacrifices his father made during that period and the difficult decisions they faced.
In a 2007 interview, Messi recalled how his father asked whether he wanted to continue pursuing his football career in Spain or return to Argentina.
According to Messi, he chose to remain in Barcelona, and Jorge stayed by his side.
That decision ultimately proved crucial as Messi progressed through Barcelona’s youth academy and went on to become one of the most decorated footballers in history.
As Lionel’s career and international profile grew, Jorge became increasingly involved in his son’s professional and business affairs.
He represented Messi in major negotiations and commercial agreements, although he generally maintained a low public profile and rarely granted interviews.
Jorge also remained a strong source of support for his son away from football. In one of his reflections on Lionel’s career, he highlighted the difficult experiences the family had overcome and praised his son not only for his achievements on the pitch but also for his character.
He described Lionel as an excellent person and noted that the challenges the family faced together had helped strengthen their bond.
Concerns over Jorge’s health became more widely known in 2026 after Messi appeared emotional following Argentina’s opening match at the World Cup.
After scoring a hat-trick, the Argentina captain explained that his emotions were linked to personal issues rather than events on the football pitch.
Messi said he had experienced “difficult, complicated days” and later acknowledged that the situation was related to his family.
The Messi family subsequently revealed that Jorge was under medical supervision and was recovering at the time.
Before becoming closely associated with his son’s football career, Jorge trained as a chemical technician and began working for Argentine steel company Acindar in the 1980s. He eventually rose to a managerial position within the company.
Jorge also had a connection with football during his youth. He played as a midfielder in the youth system of Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys before ending his playing ambitions after being called up for military service.
His influence on Lionel Messi’s career extended far beyond his role as a father, as he remained a key figure throughout the footballer’s rise from a young boy in Rosario to one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
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