Jorge Messi, father and agent of one of the greatest footballers of all time, has passed away at the age of 68 in Rosario. Lionel Messi and his family arrived by private jet for the final farewell.
A private plane from the United States landed on Saturday afternoon at the airport in Rosario, Argentina. On board were Lionel Messi, his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children. They were traveling for the most difficult farewell in the life of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. His father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi, had passed away that morning at dawn at the age of 68 in one of the city's clinics. The cause of death has not been released.
Agence France-Presse reports that the Argentine captain and his family were greeted by airport authorities. Grief was evident on every face as they, mostly dressed in black, got into a car under heavy police escort. The funeral is planned for today, Sunday, in the nearby town of Pérez, and according to local officials, it will be a closed family ceremony, away from the public eye.
In front of the El Prado cemetery in Pérez, touching signs of support have appeared. Handwritten messages from fans are hung on the fence: "Be strong, Leo, we love you" and "Stay strong, Messi family," along with a large floral wreath. One fan, 15-year-old Lucas Blanco, brought his own sign. "He has given this country so much joy; now it's our turn to give back, to comfort him," he said. Carlos and Ana traveled 700 kilometers from the city of Tres Arroyos to be there. "We wanted to be with Leo in this moment," they stated.
The passing of Jorge Messi means the loss of a fundamental support in Lionel's life. He was his son's strongest pillar during the difficult teenage years spent in Barcelona, far from home, after the boy arrived at the Catalan club at the age of 13. Throughout his extraordinary career, the father managed his professional and financial affairs.
The news of his death has deeply resonated in the football world. Condolences have been expressed by the Argentine Football Association and numerous clubs, with Barcelona, Messi's longtime home, standing out. In an official statement, the club said: "FC Barcelona expresses its sincere gratitude to Jorge Messi for his steadfast commitment to our club and for the precious trust he placed in us from the beginnings of his son Leo's football career and during his golden years with us."
Jorge Messi was also his son's first coach, introducing him to football at the age of four on empty plots where local children gathered. As a metalworker in Rosario, he coached the youth categories at the small club Grandoli. His life changed in 2000 when he left everything to follow Leo to Spain. His absence from the World Cup in June had already drawn attention, and the family asked the media for "humanity" amid rumors about his health. After the goal against Algeria, the 39-year-old Messi burst into tears and admitted he was going through a "situation beyond sport." "I've had a few tough, complicated days," he said later, "but I'm grateful to the whole delegation and teammates, because they've been there for me, as always." Local media reported that Jorge Messi had been battling cancer.
Inter Miami, the club whose colors Messi has worn since the summer of 2023, responded with a touching gesture of loyalty. On Saturday evening, in a match against Mexico's Monterrey, his teammates took the field with black armbands, paying tribute to the father of their biggest star. The scene encapsulated the depth of sympathy for the tragedy that has befallen one of the greatest footballers in history.
Rodrigo de Paul, a close friend and teammate of Messi at Inter Miami, after scoring a goal in the 2-1 loss to Monterrey, lifted his jersey and showed Messi's number 10, paying homage to him. According to media reports, De Paul was expected to travel to Argentina to be with the family. Leandro Paredes, a midfielder for Boca Juniors, said after his match: "It will surely do him good for us to be there." He added: "I need to talk to a few more teammates to see if we go now or tomorrow." The ceremony at El Prado cemetery concluded around noon local time, when vehicles left the cemetery and private security withdrew. Through the gates, family scenes could be glimpsed, including embraces among family members, with Lionel Messi among them.
