{
  "id": 316966,
  "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-316966",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T15:51:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c70gn3w5ek5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lionel Messi's father, Jorge, passed away at the age of 68 after battling a long illness. Jorge, who served as Messi's agent since he was 14, died in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, early Saturday morning. Speculation about his health had surfaced during the World Cup, but the family later disclosed that he was dealing with a health-related situation. Jorge played a pivotal role in shaping Lionel's career, being his agent and a constant companion throughout his rise to becoming arguably the best player of all time. He supported Lionel at Newell's Old Boys, the club where Messi began his professional journey at the age of seven. After Lionel's move to Spain in 2001, Jorge remained in Barcelona, providing unwavering support to his son's football career. The family expressed their deep sorrow and thanked the club and the Argentine Football Association for their support during this difficult time.",
  "summary": "Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge dies at the age of 68 following a long illness.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "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": "Yahoo Sports",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-08-08T15:03:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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."
}