Shaken Messi with Antonella at His Father's Funeral
Lionel Messi arrived in his native Argentina to bid a final farewell to his father Jorge, who passed away at the age of 68. His wife Antonella was his greatest support at the private ceremony.
Lionel Messi arrived in his native Argentina to bid a final farewell to his father Jorge, who passed away at the age of 68. His wife Antonella was his greatest support at the private ceremony.
Lionel Messi made his first public appearance following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, arriving in his native Argentina on Monday, August 10, 2026, for the final farewell. The Inter Miami footballer, visibly shaken, was accompanied by his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, who was his pillar of strength during the private ceremony held in the presence of close family and friends.
Messi traveled to Argentina on a private jet from Miami, along with Antonella and their children. Jorge Messi, who passed away after a serious illness at a clinic in Rosario, was laid to rest at El Prado Cemetery in the nearby town of Pérez. In addition to the family, several members of the Argentine national football team attended the farewell.
Outside the cemetery, numerous fans gathered to pay tribute to the man who played an immensely important role in the career of one of the greatest footballers of all time. They left flowers and messages of support for the Messi family.
Jorge Messi was not just Lionel's father. He was his first coach at the local club Grandoli and later his long-time agent, handling all key negotiations throughout his career at Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami. His most crucial decision came in 2000 when he quit his job at a steel factory and moved with a then-13-year-old Lionel to Spain, enabling him to continue treatment and develop as a footballer at Barcelona's academy.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) decided to honor Jorge Messi with a minute of silence and black armbands at all matches in the country, with condolences pouring in from across the football world.
