Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 following a prolonged illness.
According to reports from Argentine media, Jorge died at around 10 p.m. on Friday at a medical facility in Rosario, Argentina, where he had been receiving treatment.
His death marks a deeply personal loss for Lionel Messi and the Messi family, with Jorge having played a significant role in the footballer’s journey from a promising young player in Rosario to one of the most celebrated footballers in history.
Jorge was married to Celia Cuccittini and was the father of four children: Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.
Beyond being Messi’s father, Jorge was an important figure during the early stages of his son’s career. He was particularly involved when Lionel was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child and required expensive medical treatment.
When efforts to secure the necessary treatment in Argentina proved difficult, Jorge helped facilitate Lionel’s move to FC Barcelona when the youngster was just 13 years old.
Jorge later moved to Spain with Lionel during the early and challenging period of his son’s football development, while the rest of the family remained in Rosario.
Reflecting on those difficult years, Messi recalled in a 2007 interview that his father gave him the choice of continuing to pursue his football dream in Spain or returning home.
Messi chose to stay, and Jorge remained beside him.
That decision proved pivotal. Messi went on to establish himself at Barcelona, develop into one of the greatest players of his generation and eventually build a career filled with major individual and team honours.
Jorge also became closely involved in managing Lionel’s professional affairs outside the pitch, including contract negotiations and commercial relationships with major international brands.
Despite his influence, Jorge generally maintained a low public profile and rarely gave interviews. On one occasion, however, he spoke emotionally about his relationship with his son and the challenges the family had experienced together.
He described the difficult moments they had endured as experiences that ultimately strengthened the family and expressed pride not only in Lionel’s football achievements but also in the person he had become.
Jorge’s health became a subject of public attention during the 2026 World Cup, when Lionel Messi appeared emotional following Argentina’s opening match.
After scoring a hat-trick, Messi was asked about his emotional reaction and explained that it was connected to circumstances unrelated to football.
He later acknowledged that the situation involved his family.
The Messi family subsequently confirmed that Jorge was under medical supervision and was recovering while doctors monitored his condition.
Before becoming closely associated with his son’s football career, Jorge had worked as a chemical technician. He joined Argentine steel company Acindar during the 1980s and eventually rose to a managerial position.
Jorge also had a connection to football before his son’s rise to international fame. He played as a midfielder in the youth setup at Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario but eventually left the sport after being called up for military service.
For Lionel Messi, Jorge’s influence extended far beyond football management. He was the parent who stood beside him during some of the most uncertain moments of his childhood, helped him access crucial medical treatment and supported the decision that ultimately took him to Europe.
As news of his death emerges, Jorge Messi is being remembered not only as the father of one of football’s greatest stars, but also as a central figure in the early journey that helped make Lionel Messi’s extraordinary career possible.
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