Lionel Messi's father and agent, Jorge Messi, dies in Argentina at 68

Jorge Messi, the father and longtime agent of football icon Lionel Messi, has passed away at the age of 68 in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. The news was confirmed by Newell's Old Boys, the club where Lionel Messi first honed his skills as a youth player.

The Rosario-based club shared that Jorge Messi had been undergoing treatment for an unspecified illness in recent months. They remembered him as a "pillar" who, alongside his wife Celia Cuccittini, provided unwavering support, vision, and affection throughout his son's rise to global superstardom.

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the pillar who, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini, supported his son’s career with “vision, rigor and affection,”

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) also extended its condolences to Lionel Messi, expressing its "respect and affection" for the captain. Lionel Messi recently led Argentina to a runner-up finish in the World Cup, a tournament where he displayed visible emotion after scoring.

Jorge Messi, a former chemical technician and semi-professional footballer, was instrumental in managing his son's career from a young age. He was a key figure in the decision to move to Barcelona for a trial in the early 2000s, which ultimately led to Lionel joining La Masia, the club's famed youth academy. He continued to act as his son's agent and financial manager throughout his illustrious career, negotiating lucrative contracts and managing his business affairs.

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My dad was always by my side. 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.