Lionel Messi bids farewell to father who guided his career

Global football icon Lionel Messi is mourning the loss of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer. Jorge Messi, who had been his son's agent and a guiding force since Lionel's childhood, was described as the star's emotional anchor.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner returned to Argentina on a private flight from Miami late Saturday with his wife and children. He has been surrounded by close family since his arrival. A private ceremony was scheduled for Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, a town adjacent to Rosario, where Messi grew up.

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It will surely do him good for us to be there.

Fans left messages of support outside the cemetery gates, reading "Stay strong, Leo, we love you" and "Stay strong, Messi family." Teammates from the Argentine national squad have rallied around Messi following the news of his father's death, which occurred late Friday at a clinic in Rosario. Boca Juniors midfielder Leandro Paredes stated his intention to be there for Messi, saying, "It will surely do him good for us to be there."

Jorge Messi was instrumental in his son's early career, acting as his first coach and managing youth teams. He left his job as a metalworker in Rosario to accompany a young Lionel to Spain when Barcelona invited the prodigy at age 13. Messi himself had alluded to personal difficulties outside of football in recent months, acknowledging "a situation outside of sports" after a match.

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I went through a few difficult, complicated days, but I am grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates, because they stood by me, as always.