{
  "id": 331470,
  "title": "'Always by my side': Argentina mourns death of Jorge Messi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/always-by-my-side-argentina-mourns-death-of-jorge-messi-331470",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T23:10:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-09/jorge-messi-dies-aged-68-after-short-illness/107013946"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jorge Messi, the father of Argentina's legendary footballer Lionel Messi, passed away at the age of 68 after battling a short illness. He played a crucial role in his son's career, serving as his manager and navigating various business and investment ventures related to Lionel's career. The entire football community in Argentina observed a moment of silence and players wore black armbands in tribute to the late father. Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys, where Jorge managed his son's career, confirmed his death in a social media post. The South American Football Confederation also expressed condolences. Lionel Messi, Argentina's national team captain, had a difficult time during his early career, but his father's unwavering support helped him through those challenging times. The father and son duo were involved in high-profile legal issues in 2013, related to Lionel's image rights, which were eventually resolved. Media reports had outraged the Messi family, leading to a statement from the family expressing their discomfort with irresponsible media attention on a private matter.",
  "summary": "Jorge Messi, the father of Argentinian football superstar Lionel, is mourned after dying aged 68 following a short illness.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News",
        "title": "'Always by my side': Argentina mourns death of Jorge Messi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/always-by-my-side-argentina-mourns-death-of-jorge-messi",
        "published": "2026-08-08T23:10:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}