Jorge Messi, the father of Lionel Messi, died early Saturday, August 8, from an undisclosed illness. The 68-year-old businessman died in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina.
Jorge Messi trained as a chemical technician and joined the Acindar factory in the 1980s, rising to the position of manager, according to the biography "Messi" by Guillem Balagué. Before that, he had his own football dreams, playing as a solid midfielder in Newell's College youth ranks until he was called up for military service and had to leave the sport behind.
Support for Lionel's career
He was the father who was always on the sidelines at Malvinas, Newell's Old Boys' youth academy. When Lionel was already a rising star in the club's youth ranks, Jorge took responsibility for trying to secure coverage for the boy's hormone treatment in Argentina. Getting no positive response from his beloved club, he encouraged Lionel to try his luck at River Plate.
Negotiations to join River Plate fell through, and Jorge worked out a unique and highly unusual arrangement when the family decided to try their luck in Barcelona. He persuaded a European club to sign a 13-year-old foreign player, while also securing the medical treatment the boy needed, an annual salary, housing, jobs for his family and even payments for image rights, according to Balagué's account in the book.
Emotional World Cup moment
Jorge Messi's declining health had already left his son visibly shaken during the 2026 World Cup. In Argentina's opening match, Messi scored three goals in a win over Algeria. The number 10 was seen crying, a moment that drew the attention of fans and the press.
