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Jorge Messi, the father of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 after battling health problems.
Messi’s first football team, Newell’s Old Boys, confirmed the news after local media reported Jorge’s death.
Jorge reportedly died in hospital in Rosario, Argentina, close to Messi’s family home, at around 10pm local time on August 7.
“Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys bids farewell with deep sorrow and grief to Jorge Messi, who passed away at the age of 68 in the city of Rosario,” Newell’s Old Boys wrote on their X handle on Saturday.
“Recognized leproso fan, businessman, and father of the Argentine national team captain, Lionel Andrés Messi.
“Jorge was the pillar and the person who supported with vision, rigor, and affection the career of the greatest player of all time alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.
“His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel, from his beginnings at Malvinas to the pinnacle of world football glory.
“Thank you for teaching him to love these colors.
“The Board of Directors, members, athletes, and the entire leprosa family embrace with affection Celia, Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol, and all their loved ones and close ones in this difficult moment.
“Farewell forever, leproso.”
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Jorge operated as Messi’s agent and de facto business manager throughout his career, overseeing his son’s multi-million dollar empire off the pitch, Daily Mail reports.
In recent months, though, Jorge had been dealing with an as-yet-unconfirmed medical issue that had seen him taken to hospital in his home country.
His illness first came to light when Lionel, 39, cried on the pitch at the World Cup in a rare public display of emotion.
After scoring a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening group game in Kansas City, Messi was questioned by journalists and said: “No, honestly it’s something completely unrelated to sports. It’s been a few difficult days, complicated.”
Just hours later, journalist Eduardo Feinmann explained the reason for the tears in an interview on Radio Mitre, one of the country’s most listened-to stations.
“This has to do with his father. His father is not in good health,’ he said. ‘For quite some time now, several months, since last year.
“And this week there were some situations that slightly worsened his health, and Messi is going through this internal struggle. In other words, like any human being.”
It has since been reported that Jorge suffered a ‘medical episode’ at his home in January of this year, and he was hospitalized as a result.
In the aftermath, he was said to have undergone cardiovascular and neurological tests, but no official diagnosis was shared by the family, who sought to keep Jorge’s health out of the media.
Jorge’s health became headline news again in June, when a broadcaster in Argentina falsely claimed he had died – before later issuing an emotional apology and stepping down from her job.
Lionel is the third of four children of Jorge and his wife Celia Cuccittini, and the pair remained together until his death.
