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Lionel Messi and Family Bid Farewell to Father Jorge in Private Rosario Ceremony
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Lionel Messi and Family Bid Farewell to Father Jorge in Private Rosario Ceremony

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Lionel Messi and his family attended the private funeral of his father, Jorge Messi, in Rosario, Argentina.
  • Jorge Messi, aged 68, passed away after a long illness.
  • The funeral was held with a security detail, and tributes poured in from fans and local football clubs.

Lionel Messi, along with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children, attended the intimate funeral of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away at the age of 68. The ceremony took place on Sunday morning at the El Prado private cemetery on the outskirts of Rosario, Argentina, Messi's hometown.

Force Leo, we love you.

— fan messageA message left by fans outside the cemetery in support of Lionel Messi.

The Inter Miami star and his family arrived on a private jet from the United States on Saturday night. They joined Messi's mother, Celia Cuccittini, and his siblings, Matías, Rodrigo, and María Sol, for the service. To ensure privacy, the cemetery was closed to visitors from midday.

Fans gathered near the Rosario airport and the cemetery, leaving messages of support for the football icon, including one that read, "Force Leo, we love you." The Mayor of Rosario, Pablo Javkin, extended condolences to the Messi family and assured them of the local government's support in protecting the ceremony.

Jorge was part of our history and also a coach at our club. Here he accompanied the first steps of that little Lionel who later made history in world football.

— Abanderado Grandoli clubA tribute posted by the club where Messi started playing.

In tribute to Jorge Messi, a moment of silence was observed before all professional and youth football matches across Argentina over the weekend. Players, coaching staff, and referees wore black armbands. Abanderado Grandoli, the club where Lionel Messi began his football journey, shared a heartfelt message on social media, remembering Jorge Messi's involvement as a coach and his support for Lionel's early steps in the sport.

We embrace you tightly, Leo. Thank you, Jorge, for being part of our history.

— Abanderado Grandoli clubA concluding message from the club honoring Jorge Messi.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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