Jorge Messi, father of Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 after his family revealed in June that he had been dealing with a ‘health-related situation’.
Jorge Messi passed away Friday night at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, after battling a prolonged illness. The exact cause of death was not disclosed by the family.
In June, after Lionel Messi was seen in tears during Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Algeria, the Messi family issued a statement regarding Jorge’s condition. “The Messi family wishes to inform that Jorge Messi is currently going through a health-related situation. At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favorably within his current condition,” the statement said. The family asked for privacy and respect during the process, expressing concern over the lack of sensitivity and speculation surrounding Jorge’s health.
Following the news of his death, tributes were shared by Newell’s Old Boys, the former club of the Argentine star, on social media.
The team said on Twitter:
“Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys bids farewell with deep sorrow and grief to Jorge Messi, who passed away at the age of 68 in the city of Rosario.
“Recognized leproso fan, businessman, and father of the Argentine national team captain, Lionel Andrés Messi.
“Jorge was the pillar and the person who supported with vision, rigor, and affection the career of the greatest player of all time alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.”
Lionel Messi released a heartfelt statement mourning his father’s passing: “My father has always been my biggest support in life. Everything I am today with him believing in me. Football has given me everything, but family will always come first. Because behind everything, I am still a son before anything else.”
Jorge Messi played a central and irreplaceable role in shaping his son’s extraordinary football career. When young Lionel required growth hormone treatment while playing in Newell’s Old Boys youth academy in Rosario, it was Jorge who searched for a way to finance the expensive medical care. After Argentine clubs declined to fund the treatment, Jorge made the pivotal decision to take his 13-year-old son to Barcelona in 2000, a move that changed the course of football history.
At Barcelona, Jorge negotiated the famous “napkin contract” — a preliminary agreement handwritten on a napkin by the club’s sporting director Carles Rexach on December 14, 2000. The napkin agreement, designed to reassure Jorge that Barcelona was committed to his son, paved the way for a formal contract and marked the beginning of Lionel Messi’s legendary career at the Catalan club.
Beyond his role as Lionel’s father, Jorge served as his son’s long-time agent and business representative, managing his financial affairs, negotiating contracts with clubs including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, and overseeing his image rights and various investments. Despite managing the affairs of one of the world’s most famous athletes, Jorge maintained a deliberate low profile with the media throughout his life, preferring to work behind the scenes.
More details are expected to follow.