Lionel Messi bids farewell to father Jorge in private Rosario ceremony

Lionel Messi paid his respects to his father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi, in a private ceremony in Rosario, Argentina. The farewell event, attended by family and close friends, took place near the city following the football star's return from the United States. Jorge Messi, 68, had battled a long illness and passed away at a Rosario clinic on Friday night.

Messi, captain of the Argentine national team, traveled with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children to honor his father, whose influence on his career was immeasurable. Jorge Messi's death remains unexplained, though Argentine media has not disclosed an official cause of demise. The Messi family's grief was shared by fans, who left messages of support at the cemetery gates in Pérez, while teammates expressed solidarity with Lionel Messi.

Barcelona honored Jorge Messi's pivotal role in his son's journey to Barcelona, and Boca Juniors midfielder Leandro Paredes acknowledged the comfort that national team colleagues would provide.