Jorge Messi, the father and longtime agent of football icon Lionel Messi, died on 8 August 2026 at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness. He passed away at approximately 02:00 local time at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, according to Sanatorio Centro, which cited patient data-protection rules for not releasing further medical details.
Jorge had guided his son's career since Lionel was just 14 years old, steering him toward becoming what many consider the greatest footballer of all time. He was present in Qatar in 2022 to witness Lionel finally lift the World Cup with Argentina, a triumph that also earned Lionel the tournament's best player award.
Concerns about Jorge's health first surfaced publicly during this year's World Cup, when the Messi family issued a statement acknowledging he was facing a "health-related situation" without specifying his diagnosis. Our earlier coverage detailed how Messi's father was placed under medical care amid mounting concern, a period during which Lionel was visibly emotional after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria and spoke of personal difficulties away from the pitch.
According to a report citing family sources, Jorge spent his final months moving between a medical facility in Rosario and his home, surrounded by his wife Celia and their children Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol.
What role did Jorge play in Lionel's career?
Jorge was far more than a parent on the sidelines — he was the architect behind his son's rise from a boy playing for local club Newell's Old Boys to a global superstar. Under his guidance, Lionel amassed a record eight Ballon d'Or awards and lifted the Champions League four times along with 10 La Liga titles across 17 seasons in Barcelona's first team. Now 39 and playing for Inter Miami, Lionel also became the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 17 goals, a milestone reached during this year's tournament that underlined, as detailed in our coverage of his record-breaking longevity, his enduring dominance of the sport at an age when most players have long retired.
How did the family's move to Spain shape Lionel's development?
Jorge relocated with his son to Spain in February 2001 after Barcelona signed the 13-year-old Lionel. While Lionel's mother and three siblings eventually returned to Rosario, Jorge remained in Barcelona to support his son through the demanding early years of his professional career. Newell's Old Boys, the club Jorge supported and which Lionel joined at age seven, described this period as central to Lionel's development, crediting Jorge's steady presence for helping shape the player he became.
How has the football world responded?
Tributes poured in from clubs and institutions closely tied to the Messi family's story. Newell's Old Boys, which identified Jorge as a lifelong "leproso" supporter and businessman according to a report on the club's tribute, posted a message on social media platform X reading:
"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 [youth academy] to the pinnacle of world football glory."
"Thank you for teaching him to love these colours."
The club also extended condolences to the wider family, stating it would:
"embrace with affection Celia, Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol, and all their loved ones and close ones in this difficult moment."
Barcelona, where Lionel spent the majority of his professional career, thanked Jorge for entrusting the club with his son's formative years, while the Argentine Football Association said it "deeply mourns with sadness and sorrow the passing of Jorge Messi, father of our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi," adding:
"From here, we stand in solidarity with the entire family during this difficult time and send the most heartfelt, warm and affectionate embrace."
Why did an earlier false report about Jorge's health cause controversy?
This is not the first time reports about Jorge's condition have made headlines. As previously covered, an Argentine television presenter resigned after wrongly reporting Jorge's death during Argentina's opening World Cup match, prompting the Messi family to publicly express their discomfort with the handling of what they considered a private matter. At the time, the family clarified that Jorge was receiving medical treatment and recovering favourably, a claim echoed in earlier reporting that described his condition as improving following weeks of intense media speculation.
The renewed scrutiny of Jorge's health during the tournament also fed into broader storylines about Lionel's emotional World Cup run, including accounts of how the unity fostered by manager Scaloni and teammates such as Rodrigo de Paul helped carry Messi through personal and professional pressures simultaneously, as explored in our feature on Argentina's team spirit during the tournament.
Key Facts
- Jorge Messi died on 8 August 2026 at age 68 following a prolonged illness at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina.
- He had served as Lionel Messi's agent since his son was 14 years old.
- Lionel Messi won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards, four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles under Jorge's guidance.
- Jorge spent his final months alternating between a Rosario medical centre and his home, accompanied by wife Celia and children Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol.
- An Argentine presenter resigned earlier this year after falsely reporting Jorge's death during the World Cup.
