A great loss for Lionel Messi: His father, Jorge, has died

Jorge Messi, father of Argentine and soccer legend Lionel Messi, has died. He passed away at the age of 68 in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, where he had been hospitalized for some time. The news is making headlines across all Argentine newspapers: Jorge Messi had been battling an illness for some time and was unable to accompany his son to the 2026 World Cup.

Married to Celica Cuccittini and the father of four children, he served as Lionel’s agent for years and played a pivotal role in his son’s career, from his days in the Newell’s Old Boys youth academy through his transfer to Barcelona, where Leo’s legend began. Jorge handled all commercial agreements throughout his son’s career, always maintaining a low media profile, even during the recent multimillion-dollar transfers to PSG and Inter Miami.

During the 2026 World Cup, Messi broke down in tears on several occasions while remembering his father, who was following the tournament from the hospital while seriously ill. During the World Cup, news of his death had already circulated, only to be later denied. Lionel’s tears after scoring his first goal against Algeria were seen around the world, and the champion himself admitted after the match: “The truth is, this has nothing to do with sports; it’s about my family. I’ve been through some difficult and complicated days; I have to thank my teammates and the staff.” At that time, the family had issued an official statement to set the record straight, asking for respect and privacy: “The Messi family wishes to inform you that Jorge Messi is going through a difficult time due to health issues. He is currently under medical observation, recovering, and making positive progress.”

Leo has always credited his father with shaping the man he has become: “My father has always been by my side. We’ve been through some very difficult times, and he’s always stayed with me.”