Messi bids farewell to father who shaped his glittering career
ROSARIO, Argentina: Argentina football icon Lionel Messi bid farewell Sunday to his father, the global star’s emotional anchor and agent since childhood who passed away following a battle with cancer aged 68.
Lionel Messi, the Argentine football sensation, paid his respects to his father, Jorge Messi, who had been battling cancer. The 68-year-old passed away on Saturday, leaving behind a legacy that shaped his son's illustrious career. The emotional farewell came after a private flight from Miami, where Messi, his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children had arrived.
A somber ceremony with fellow Argentine national squad members is planned at a cemetery in Perez, close to Rosario. Fans had left messages of support at the gates of El Prado cemetery, while Messi's teammates rallied around him in solidarity. Jorge Messi had played a pivotal role in his son's journey, from being his first coach to his agent, negotiating numerous lucrative contracts.
The football community has extended its condolences, with the Argentine Football Association ordering a minute of silence before games and black armbands being worn across all age groups for a week.
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