Jorge Messi, the father, first coach and long-time professional agent of global football icon Lionel Messi, has passed away at the age of 68, according to an official announcement from Newell’s Old Boys, the Argentine club where Lionel Messi launched his childhood football career. The confirmation was made public by the club on Saturday.
Local Argentine media outlets have reported that Jorge Messi died on Friday at a hospital in Rosario, the central Argentine city where the Messi family has deep roots. The 68-year-old had been facing publicized health struggles in recent months, during which the Messi family made a public plea for media privacy and empathy amid widespread speculation over his condition.
In a heartfelt social media statement shared Saturday, Newell’s Old Boys paid tribute to Jorge Messi’s foundational role in his son’s unprecedented career, noting: “His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel.”
The story of Jorge Messi is inextricably tied to Lionel’s rise from a young prospect in Rosario to one of the greatest footballers in history. He served as Lionel’s first coach when the future star began playing the sport at the grassroots level in Argentina, and was the only person to accompany the 13-year-old Lionel when he moved across the Atlantic to join FC Barcelona’s youth academy, a move that set the stage for his legendary career. Later, he stepped into the role of Lionel’s official agent, managing the off-pitch business and logistics that allowed the footballer to focus on his performance on the pitch.
Looking back on his father’s influence in a 2022 interview with DirecTV Sports, Lionel Messi publicly acknowledged the outsized impact Jorge had on his career and personal growth, saying: “My father helped me enormously. He is very critical of me. That made me always want to push myself further.”
The news of Jorge’s passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the global football community in the hours following the announcement, with fans, fellow players and football institutions extending their condolences to the Messi family.