Jorge Messi, father and long-time representative of football superstar Lionel Messi, died at the age of 68.
Reports from Argentina say Jorge died around 10 p.m. on Friday at a medical facility in Rosario after a prolonged illness.
Jorge was married to Celia Cuccittini, and the couple had four children — Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.
He played a significant role in Lionel Messi’s development, particularly when the youngster required growth hormone treatment as a teenager.
After efforts to secure the necessary treatment in Argentina failed, Jorge helped facilitate his son’s move to Barcelona at the age of 13.
He remained with Lionel in Spain during the early stages of his career, while other members of the family stayed in Rosario.
Recalling those difficult years in a 2007 interview, Messi said his father stood by him through the uncertainty surrounding his move to Europe.
“My old man was always by my side. We lived through many bad moments.”
Messi also recalled how his father gave him the choice of continuing his football journey in Spain or returning home.
“My old man asked me, what do you want to do, do you want to continue or shall we go back? I wanted to continue and he stayed with me.”
Jorge later became an important figure in managing Messi’s affairs, including negotiations with major international brands.
Although he largely stayed away from the spotlight, Jorge occasionally spoke publicly about his son and the challenges they faced together.
In one emotional message to Lionel, he said the family’s difficult experiences had helped strengthen their bond and described his son as more than just a great footballer.
“You know very well that we have gone through many good and not-so-good moments.”
He added that he believed Lionel was “an excellent person”.
Jorge’s health had reportedly become a concern during the 2026 World Cup. Following Argentina’s opening match, Messi became emotional when discussing his personal circumstances.
After scoring a hat-trick, he said his emotions were connected to an issue outside football.
“It is for a reason completely unrelated to sport. I had some difficult, complicated days.”
When asked about the situation, Messi added:
“The truth is, more than anything, because of the family.”
The Messi family later disclosed that Jorge was receiving medical care and described his condition at the time as stable and improving within the circumstances.
Before becoming involved in his son’s football career, Jorge worked as a chemical technician at Acindar, an Argentine steel company, where he eventually rose to a managerial position.
He had also played football as a midfielder in the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys before leaving the sport after being called up for military service.
Jorge Messi’s death brings to an end the life of a man who remained largely behind the scenes but played a crucial role in guiding Lionel Messi from a young player in Rosario to one of the most accomplished footballers in history.
