Reports in Argentina: Lionel Messi's father has passed away
According to reports, Jorge Messi, father of Argentine national team star Lionel Messi and a man who for years was one of the central figures in managing his career, has passed away at the age of 68 after a prolonged battle with illness.
Heavy mourning in the Messi family: Jorge Messi, father of Lionel Messi, has passed away at the age of 68, according to reports in the Argentine media.
According to the report published in Infobae, his death occurred last night, around 22:00 (Argentina time), at a hospital in the city of Rosario, where he had been hospitalized recently.
Jorge, who was born in Argentina and was a businessman, became known to the global public not only as the father of one of the greatest footballers of all time, but also as a man who was deeply involved in his son's professional career. For years, he served as Messi's representative and handled a significant portion of his affairs off the pitch.
The man who was there from the beginning
The bond between Jorge and Lionel was much more than a father-son relationship. Jorge was involved in the path that led his young son from Rosario to the big stage of world football.
When Messi was a child and faced a growth problem that required expensive medical treatment, the family had to deal with the expenses and the uncertainty surrounding the child's future. Later, Lionel's move to Barcelona at a young age changed his life and the lives of his family, and Jorge remained a significant figure by his side throughout the way.
Over the years, as Messi's career took off, Jorge also became one of the central figures managing his business and professional affairs. He was present at key junctions in his son's career, both during periods of immense success and in more complex moments.
Rosario says goodbye to the figure identified with the Messi family
Rosario, the city where Lionel Messi was born and raised, was also the place where Jorge chose to spend his final years. According to reports, he had been hospitalized there recently following a prolonged illness.
The news comes after false reports about Jorge's death had circulated on social media in recent months. In June, the Messi family even had to publicly address the rumors and ask for responsibility and respect regarding reports about his health condition.
This time, the report of his death was published by Infobae and has since been echoed by other media outlets in Argentina, which reported that Jorge Messi died at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness.
A personal loss for one of the world's greatest athletes
For Lionel Messi, this is the loss of the person who had been by his side since his childhood and throughout the entire journey that led him to become a global star.
Jorge was not just Messi's father. He was an inseparable part of the story that began on the small football pitches of Rosario, moved to Barcelona, and ended in a career that made Lionel Messi one of the most recognizable figures in the world of sports.
At this stage, full details regarding the funeral and reactions from members of the Messi family have not yet been widely published, and reports on the subject are still developing.
