'Always by my side': Argentina mourns death of Jorge Messi

Jorge Messi, the father of Argentina's legendary footballer Lionel Messi, passed away at the age of 68 after battling a short illness. He played a crucial role in his son's career, serving as his manager and navigating various business and investment ventures related to Lionel's career. The entire football community in Argentina observed a moment of silence and players wore black armbands in tribute to the late father.

Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys, where Jorge managed his son's career, confirmed his death in a social media post. The South American Football Confederation also expressed condolences. Lionel Messi, Argentina's national team captain, had a difficult time during his early career, but his father's unwavering support helped him through those challenging times.

The father and son duo were involved in high-profile legal issues in 2013, related to Lionel's image rights, which were eventually resolved. Media reports had outraged the Messi family, leading to a statement from the family expressing their discomfort with irresponsible media attention on a private matter.