Lionel Messi's father, Jorge, dead at 68

Jorge Messi, father of renowned footballer Lionel Messi, has died aged 68. The cause was a prolonged illness from which he passed away at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, according to his family. Jorge's final months were split between the clinic and their home, with his wife Celia and three other children, Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol, by his side.

Lionel visited his father after the World Cup, before resuming his career with Inter Miami, where he returned to action a week prior. Jorge had been Lionel's representative and business manager for many years, starting from his early days at Barcelona. During the World Cup, Lionel had a mix of emotions after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match against Algeria.

He later broke down in tears during a press conference, explaining that his emotions were unrelated to football, stating he had been through a few difficult and complicated days. Following his father's passing, the family announced that Jorge had been receiving medical treatment. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) expressed condolences to the family and declared a minute's silence for Jorge at matches across Argentina's football divisions. All players, coaches, and referees would wear black armbands to honor Jorge Messi.