{
  "id": 348477,
  "title": "Rafael Nadal leads tributes following death of Messi’s father",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/rafael-nadal-leads-tributes-following-death-of-messis-father",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-09T04:55:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/football/rafael-nadal-leads-tributes-following-death-of-messis-father-1.500635130"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Following the passing of Jorge Messi, long-time agent and father of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi, tributes have flooded in from the football community. The 68-year-old businessman succumbed to a long illness on Friday night at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina. Fellow sportsperson Rafael Nadal, a longtime admirer, shared a heartfelt message on X, expressing his condolences to Messi and his family. FC Barcelona, Messi's former club, also paid tribute, expressing their deepest condolences and praising Messi's role in the footballer's career. Other clubs, including Newell's Old Boys, CONMEBOL, UNICEF Argentina, and Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid, also offered their sympathies.",
  "summary": "Condolences have poured in from across the football world following the death of Jorge Messi, father and long-time agent of Argentina and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi . Jorge died aged 68 on Friday night at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, following a long illness. Among those to pay tribute was tennis great Rafael Nadal, a long-time admirer of Messi. The Spanish sporting icon shared a…",
  "key_points": [
    "Argentine football legend Lionel Messi mourns loss of father Jorge Messi",
    "Rafael Nadal, fellow sports personality, pays tribute to Messi's father",
    "FC Barcelona, Messi's former club, extends condolences and praises father's impact"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Inter Miami lose 2-1 to Monterrey with Messi away mourning father",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/inter-miami-lose-2-1-to-monterrey-with-messi-away-mourning-father",
        "published": "2026-08-09T06:43:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Miami lose 2-1 to Monterrey as Messi misses game after father’s death",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/miami-lose-2-1-to-monterrey-as-messi-misses-game-after-fathers-death",
        "published": "2026-08-09T08:30:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Messi bids farewell to father who shaped his glittering career",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/messi-bids-farewell-to-father-who-shaped-his-glittering-career",
        "published": "2026-08-09T15:19:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Messi says farewell to his father in hometown Rosario",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/messi-says-farewell-to-his-father-in-hometown-rosario",
        "published": "2026-08-09T18:58:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}