DistantNews
Support us
Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, dies at 68
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, dies at 68

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Jorge Messi, father and agent of football superstar Lionel Messi, died at age 68 in Rosario, Argentina.
  • He was instrumental in his son's career, serving as his first coach and later his agent, negotiating major contracts.
  • Lionel Messi credited his father's critical feedback for pushing him to improve.

Jorge Messi, the father and agent of global football icon Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina. Newell's Old Boys, the club where the Argentine captain played as a child, announced his passing on social media.

"The Newell's Old Boys Athletic Club bids a profound farewell with deep sorrow and regret to Jorge Messi, who passed away at 68 years of age in the city of Rosario," the club stated. He died early Saturday morning at the Sanatorio Centro hospital, where he spent his final hours.

Jorge Messi was a pivotal figure throughout his son's career. He served as Lionel's first coach on makeshift pitches and was his sole companion during the challenging early days in Barcelona. Later, he became his agent, negotiating lucrative contracts.

Lionel Messi himself acknowledged his father's influence, stating in a 2022 interview, "My old man helped me a lot. He is very critical of me. That made me always want to improve."

El Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys despide con profundo dolor y pesar a Jorge Messi, quien falleció a los 68 años de edad en la ciudad de Rosario

— Newell's Old BoysAnnouncement of Jorge Messi's death
DistantNews Editorial

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

More Stories

From Our Blog