The football icon’s longtime adviser and representative died in Rosario after a long illness, leaving behind a family deeply connected to his remarkable career

Lionel Andrés Messi, the Argentina captain and Inter Miami forward, is mourning the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who died aged 68 in Rosario, Argentina, on Friday night, August 7, 2026, after a long illness.

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Jorge Messi spent his final months moving between a medical centre in Rosario and his home, where he was accompanied by his wife, Celia, and their children Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol, according to the family.

The death brings to a close the life of a man who remained largely away from the spotlight while playing a powerful role behind one of football’s most extraordinary careers.

Jorge was not simply Lionel’s father.

He was a longtime adviser and, for several years, his representative, helping guide the young footballer through the early stages of a journey that eventually took him from Rosario to Barcelona and the summit of world football.

Lionel left Argentina for Barcelona at the age of 13, after beginning his football development at Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario.

His father’s involvement remained a constant as the youngster adapted to life in Spain and developed into one of the game’s defining figures.

The scale of Lionel’s eventual success is extraordinary. He has won eight Ballon d’Or awards and established himself as one of the most decorated footballers in history.

Yet behind those celebrated moments was a family relationship that Lionel has previously described in deeply personal terms.

“I always needed my dad’s approval, ever since I was a kid. After every match, I’d ask him what he thought of how I played,” Lionel said of Jorge.

That admission offers a glimpse into the quieter influence Jorge maintained throughout his son’s career. Even after Lionel became a global sporting icon, his father’s opinion remained meaningful to him.

Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario club where Lionel developed as a young player and which remains closely associated with the Messi family, paid tribute to Jorge following his death.

The club described him as a supporter, businessman and father who provided essential support throughout Lionel’s rise.

“His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel,” Newell’s Old Boys said in its tribute.

The timing of Jorge’s death also recalls a particularly emotional period during the 2026 World Cup.

During Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, Lionel broke down in tears after scoring. The moment immediately attracted widespread attention, with speculation growing about what had caused his reaction.

Lionel later made clear that the emotion had nothing to do with football.

“It had absolutely nothing to do with football,” he said after the match, explaining that he had been experiencing “a few difficult, complicated days”.

The Messi family subsequently confirmed that Jorge was dealing with a health situation and receiving medical treatment, while asking the public and media to respect the family’s privacy.

Lionel continued with Argentina during the tournament and later spent time with his father before returning to Inter Miami.

Reuters reported that he had rejoined the club and returned to action a week before Jorge’s death.

For a player whose professional life has been played out under intense global scrutiny, Jorge represented a more private part of Lionel’s story.

His influence began long before the trophies, records and international acclaim.

He was there when Lionel was still a child in Rosario, through the difficult transition to Barcelona, and during the years in which his son’s talent developed into historic achievement.

That legacy is now likely to be remembered not only through Lionel’s footballing success but through the personal foundation that helped sustain it.

Jorge Messi is survived by his wife, Celia, sons Lionel, Rodrigo and Matías, and daughter María Sol. (Reuters)

As tributes emerge from the football world and beyond, the loss remains deeply personal for Lionel and the Messi family.

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For millions who know Lionel Messi primarily through stadiums, trophies and unforgettable moments, Jorge Messi’s death offers a poignant reminder that behind the world’s most celebrated sporting figures are families whose quiet support often begins long before the applause.