Messi’s father dies after prolonged illness

Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, has died at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness. He passed away in the early hours of Saturday at Sanatorio Centro hospital in Rosario, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed condition. Despite his son and Argentina reaching the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Jorge was unable to attend due to his illness.

The hospital issued a statement expressing condolences to the family and providing no further information on the cause of death, in line with patient data protection regulations. Jorge Messi, who played a significant role in his son's career, had taken the young Lionel to Europe for treatment and signed his first Barcelona contract.

Newell's Old Boys, his first club, described him as a pillar and the person who guided Lionel Messi's career. The Argentina Football Association and both Barcelona and Real Madrid also expressed their condolences to the Messi family.