{
  "id": 311828,
  "title": "Lionel Messi's father, Jorge, dies aged 68, CONMEBOL says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/lionel-messis-father-jorge-dies-aged-68-conmebol-says",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T15:03:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lionel-messis-father-jorge-dies-150331045.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Horacio Messi, passed away at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness, according to the South American Football Confederation CONMEBOL. CONMEBOL expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the influential figure in football.\n\nNewell's Old Boys, Messi's first club, mourned the death of the man who played a pivotal role in his son's rise to becoming one of the greatest footballers of all time. The club confirmed that Jorge Messi died in Rosario, Argentina.\n\nDespite his health concerns during the recent World Cup, Lionel Messi was emotional after scoring the first goal in Argentina's opening match against Algeria. However, the family later reported that he was recovering favorably.\n\nJorge Messi, who was also his son's agent, traveled with Lionel to Barcelona in the early 2000s to pursue a trial that would lead to his acceptance into the club's youth academy. Lionel Messi went on to achieve numerous accolades, including 10 La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies with Barcelona, and leading Argentina to their third World Cup victory in 2022.",
  "summary": "Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Horacio Messi, passed away at the age of 68 after a long illness, according to South American Football Confederation CONMEBOL. The news was confirmed by CONMEBOL on X, and reported by Newell's Old Boys, Argentinian newspapers Ole and Clarin. The cause of death was not disclosed. Jorge Messi, who also served as his son's agent, played a crucial role in Lionel's rise to becoming one of the world's greatest football players.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/311828.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Lionel Messi’s father Jorge Messi dies after long illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/lionel-messis-father-jorge-messi-dies-after-long-illness",
        "published": "2026-08-08T13:54:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Jorge Messi, father of Lionel, dies aged 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/jorge-messi-father-of-lionel-dies-aged-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T13:58:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Lionel Messi’s father dies aged 68 after a long illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/lionel-messis-father-dies-aged-68-after-a-long-illness",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:25:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Messi's father Jorge dies aged 68 after illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/messis-father-jorge-dies-aged-68-after-illness",
        "published": "2026-08-08T15:51:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Lionel Messi’s Father, Jorge Messi, Dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/lionel-messis-father-jorge-messi-dies-at-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T16:47:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}