(CNN) — Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi, died Saturday at the age of 68, according to Sanatorio Centro, the medical center in Rosario, Argentina, where he was receiving care.
In a statement, Dr. Carlos Mackey, the hospital’s medical director, confirmed that Jorge Messi passed away in the early hours of the morning. He added that no further details surrounding the cause of death would be released out of respect for the family’s privacy.
Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario-based club where Lionel Messi played as a youth before moving to Europe, also confirmed his passing and paid tribute on social media.
“Renowned leproso fan (as Newell’s fans are known), businessman and father of the captain of the Argentine national team, Lionel Andrés Messi. Jorge was the support and the person who underpinned with vision, rigor and affection the career of the best player of all time along with his wife, Celia Cuccittini,” the club wrote on X.
“His constant accompaniment and leadership behind the scenes were fundamental to supporting Lionel’s every step, from his beginnings in Malvinas to the maximum glory of world football. Thank you for teaching him to love these colors,” the club added.
Tributes poured in across the soccer world following the news.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA), the governing body of football in the country, expressed its “sadness and regret at the passing of Jorge Messi, father of our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi.”
“From here we accompany with the whole family in this hard time and we send them the most heartfelt, warm, and affectionate embrace. A lot of!” added the AFA.
In a brief message, accompanied by an image that reads “Fuerza Leo,” the Argentine national team expressed its support for Messi’s family: “We are with you in this difficult moment. We send you our most heartfelt hug.”
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), to which the Argentine national team belongs, mourned the loss and sent a message of support to Lionel and Messi’s entire family.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) —an organization for which Messi is a goodwill ambassador— also sent its condolences for the death of Jorge Messi, whom it described as “a person always committed to the rights of boys and girls and a benefactor of UNICEF.”
Jorge Messi was one of the cornerstones of his son Lionel’s football career. He was with him during the most important chapters of his journey: from his glorious time with Barcelona and his painful departure years later, to his transfers to PSG and Inter Miami, as well as his World Cup victories and defeats during his more than 20 years as a player for the Argentine national team.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) —the governing body of Spanish football, whose professional league shone brightly in the 2000s and 2010s thanks to the presence of great figures, including Messi— sent its “love and affection to Lionel and his loved ones in these moments of deep sorrow” for the death of Jorge Messi.
The news comes weeks after the family publicly addressed Jorge Messi’s health during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirming at the time that he was undergoing medical monitoring for a health issue and was “recovering and progressing favorably.”
It remains unclear whether his passing was directly related to those previously reported health issues.
The-CNN-Wire
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