Jorge Messi, the father of Lionel Messi, died on Friday night at 68 in a medical clinic in the Argentine city of Rosario after a long illness, the player's family confirmed to Reuters. The news caused shock across the sporting world.
Lionel Messi was expected to arrive in Rosario around 8 p.m. Brasília time on Saturday, on a private flight from Miami, to say goodbye to his father at a private wake, according to a source close to the Argentine forward's family.
Messi spent time with his father after the World Cup in North America before rejoining Inter Miami, the club he returned to a week ago, resuming his training and match schedule.
In recent months Jorge had alternated between a medical center in Rosario and his home, always accompanied by his wife Celia and their children Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol, the family said in a statement released to the press.
Jorge's role in Messi's career
Jorge followed his son's career closely from the earliest years at Barcelona and served as a key support figure, also acting as his agent for several years.
Messi, 39, said in a previous interview that he had always needed his father's approval since childhood, and that after every match he would ask Jorge what he thought of his performance.
During the World Cup, the Argentina captain showed conflicting emotions after scoring a hat-trick in the opener against Algeria, crying heavily as he celebrated the first goal in front of fans. He later told reporters the tears were linked to something unrelated to football, after going through some difficult and complicated days in his personal life.
Days after that match, the family issued a statement about Jorge's health situation, revealing publicly that he had been undergoing medical treatment for some time.
Funeral and tributes
According to local media reports, Jorge's body will be moved on Sunday to the private cemetery El Prado in the city of Perez, near Rosario.
Several clubs, including Real Madrid and Newell's Old Boys, Messi's youth club, along with the Argentine Football Association, publicly offered condolences to the family.
The AFA also announced a minute of silence at matches across all divisions of Argentine football this weekend, with players, coaches and referees wearing black armbands in mourning. The federation said it stood in solidarity with the whole family at this difficult time and sent its most sincere, warm and affectionate embrace, wishing them strength.
Barcelona, where Messi spent most of his career from his professional debut in 2004 until 2021, thanked Jorge Messi for his commitment to the club and for trusting it with the start and the most glorious years of his son Leo's football career.
Inter Miami did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Jorge's death and is scheduled to face Monterrey on Saturday in the Leagues Cup group stage.
