Jorge Messi, Father and Longtime Agent of Lionel Messi, Dies at 68

Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi, died Friday at a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, after a prolonged illness. He was 68. His death, confirmed by hospital officials and multiple outlets across Argentina and Spain, closes the story of the man who quietly shaped one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport.

Jorge Messi was far more than a bystander in his son’s rise. He served as Lionel’s manager and chief negotiator for most of his professional career, overseeing contracts during his two decades at Barcelona before later guiding the mega-deal that brought Lionel to Inter Miami. Alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini, he steered the family’s move from Rosario to Barcelona when Lionel was a teenager seeking treatment for a growth hormone deficiency, a decision widely credited as the turning point that made Lionel’s career possible. He is survived by Celia, sons Rodrigo and Matias, daughter Maria Sol, and Lionel, along with several grandchildren.

A Health Scare That Surfaced During the World Cup

Jorge’s declining health first became a matter of public concern during this year’s FIFA World Cup. After scoring in Argentina’s tournament opener against Algeria, Lionel was visibly emotional in a way that appeared disconnected from the moment on the field. Asked about it afterward by former Argentina teammate Juan Pablo Sorin, Messi said the reaction was “for a reason completely unrelated to sports,” adding that his family had been going through “difficult, complicated days” and that his emotion was “mostly for my family.”

Days later, the Messi family issued a statement confirming that Jorge was dealing with a health issue and was receiving medical care, describing him as “under close medical attention, recovering and progressing positively given his condition.” Reports out of Argentina indicated Lionel remained closely informed on his father’s condition throughout the tournament and, at one stage, considered leaving the World Cup altogether to be by his side before ultimately continuing with the national team through its run to the final.

In the weeks that followed, the family pushed back on what it called speculation about Jorge’s condition, saying in a statement that it wished to express “its deep displeasure at the lack of sensitivity, respect, and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter.” An official cause of death has not been disclosed.

Tributes Pour In From Across the Soccer World

News of Jorge’s passing prompted an immediate wave of tributes from clubs, federations and former teammates. Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario club where both Jorge and Lionel had deep ties and where Lionel began his youth career, released one of the most personal statements: “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.”

Rosario Central, the city’s other major club, wrote that it “deeply regrets the passing of Jorge Messi” and offered its condolences “with respect and affection” to Lionel and his family. CONMEBOL, South American soccer’s governing body, said it “deeply regrets the passing of Jorge Messi, father of Argentine player Lionel Messi,” and extended sympathies to “Lionel, his family, friends, and loved ones.” Ligue 1’s official account also posted a message of support, writing that “all our thoughts go to Leo, as well as his family and loved ones.”

UNICEF, for which Lionel has served as a goodwill ambassador for more than a decade, shared its own condolences honoring the family. Fans and current players have also revisited that emotional moment against Algeria in the wake of the news, with many saying it carries added weight now that the full context of what the family was privately facing has come into view.

The Messi family has not yet issued its own public statement. As tributes continue to arrive from clubs and federations around the world, the broader reaction across the sport has centered on giving Lionel and his family space to grieve a man who, largely out of the spotlight, helped build the foundation for one of soccer’s defining careers.