Jorge Messi, the father and longtime agent of Lionel Messi, has died at 68 after a prolonged illness. He passed away Friday at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, the city where he raised the man who became the greatest footballer of all time. His death was confirmed Saturday.
The Messi family had kept Jorge’s illness private throughout this summer’s World Cup, acknowledging only that he was “going through a health situation” under medical supervision. When Lionel Messi wept after scoring his first goal against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match and said his emotion “had nothing to do with football,” he was referring to his father. “I have been through some difficult, complicated days,” he said afterward.
Jorge Messi is survived by his wife Celia and his four children — Lionel and his two older brothers Rodrigo and Matías, and their younger sister María Sol.
The Man Behind the Career
Jorge Messi worked in a steel factory in Rosario before his son’s extraordinary talent brought their family to Europe. When Lionel joined Barcelona’s academy in 2000 at age 13, Jorge accompanied him — leaving everything behind for an uncertain future in a foreign country. Both father and son found the adjustment painful.
“My dad was always by my side,” Messi said in a 2007 interview. “Sometimes I would lock myself in my room to cry when we arrived in Barcelona, or my dad would do the same without me seeing him, or thinking I didn’t see him. We pretended we were both OK, but we weren’t. My dad even asked me what I wanted to do when we were feeling down, if I wanted to stay or go back, and I wanted to stay, and he stayed with me.”
From that point forward, Jorge Messi managed his son’s career at every stage — through Barcelona, where Lionel became the club’s all-time record appearance-maker and goalscorer; through a complex move to Paris Saint-Germain; and into MLS with Inter Miami. He was also Lionel’s representative in contract negotiations throughout, a dual role that shaped not just what Messi played but how and where.
He was unable to attend this summer’s World Cup in North America due to his illness, but Messi was able to spend time in Rosario with his father after the tournament — Argentina having reached the final before losing 1-0 to Spain — before returning to action with Inter Miami.
The Tributes
Tributes arrived immediately from across the football world. Newell’s Old Boys, Lionel’s first club, said Jorge “was the support and the person who, together with his wife, strengthened the career of the greatest player of all time with vision, rigour and affection. His constant support and behind-the-scenes leadership were fundamental in supporting every step of Lionel’s journey.”
Barcelona offered condolences “on behalf of the entire Barça family” and thanked Jorge “for entrusting us with the beginnings and the most glorious years of his son Leo’s football career.” Real Madrid extended condolences to “Leo, his family, and all his loved ones.” CONMEBOL offered its sympathy “with respect and affection for Lionel.”
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