{
  "id": 312256,
  "title": "Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, dies at 68",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/jorge-messi-lionel-messis-father-and-longtime-agent-dies-at-68-312256",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T14:55:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/jorge-messi-lionel-messis-father-and-longtime-agent-dies-at-68/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jorge Messi, father of Argentina's soccer star Lionel Messi, passed away at the age of 68 on August 8, according to the club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys. He had been battling an unspecified illness in recent months, with the club describing him as a \"pillar\" who supported Lionel's career with vision, rigor, and affection. The South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, also expressed sympathy for Lionel and his family.\n\nLionel Messi, who led Argentina to a runner-up finish in the 2022 World Cup, shared that he wept for reasons unrelated to sports after scoring his first goal in the team's first match against Algeria. He later said, \"I went through some difficult, complicated days,\" and expressed gratitude for his team and their continuous support.\n\nJorge Messi, a chemical technician and former steelworker, was also a soccer player, having played as a midfielder. He initially joined Newell’s Old Boys but had to discontinue due to mandatory military service in Argentina. His role in Lionel's career was pivotal, serving as his agent and managing business affairs, including the negotiations of contracts with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami. Additionally, he managed Lionel's image rights and his various investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants.\n\nIn 2016, Jorge and Lionel were convicted of tax evasion in Spanish courts but avoided prison due to a sentence of less than two years.",
  "summary": "Jorge Messi, the father of soccer star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 on August 8, at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario.",
  "key_points": [
    "Jorge Messi, Lionel's father, dies at 68",
    "Battled unspecified illness in recent months",
    "Served as Lionel's agent and business manager"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Lionel’s Messi father Jorge Messi has passed away at the age of 68 after battling a long illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/lionels-messi-father-jorge-messi-has-passed-away-at-the-age-of-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T12:16:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "BREAKING: Messi’s father, Jorge, dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/breaking-messis-father-jorge-dies-at-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:00:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/jorge-messi-lionel-messis-father-and-longtime-agent-dies-at-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:53:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Father of Football Star Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi, Dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/father-of-football-star-lionel-messi-jorge-messi-dies-at-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T15:21:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Jorge Messi, father of football star Lionel Messi, passes away after health struggles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/jorge-messi-father-of-football-star-lionel-messi-passes-away-after",
        "published": "2026-08-08T15:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Messi’s father dies after prolonged illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/messis-father-dies-after-prolonged-illness",
        "published": "2026-08-08T19:48:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "This Day",
        "title": "Lionel Messi’s Father, Jorge Dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/lionel-messis-father-jorge-dies-at-68",
        "published": "2026-08-09T02:42:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}