Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge, passes away at 68 after illness
New Delhi:‘s father, Jorge, has died at the age of 68 after a long fight with illness. He passed away in Messi’s hometown of Rosario, and the news of his death was confirmed on Saturday, August 8.
Reports from suggested that Messi’s father died at around 10 pm local time on Friday in a clinic while undergoing treatment for a chronic illness. Messi’s boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, also confirmed the news with an official statement on Saturday, confirming the death of the Argentine captain’s father.
“Jorge was the pillar and the person who supported with vision, rigor, and affection the career of the greatest player of all time alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini. His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel, from his beginnings at Malvinas to the pinnacle of world football glory. Thank you for teaching him to love these colors,” read the statement from the club.
El Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys despide con profundo dolor y pesar a Jorge Messi, quien falleció a los 68 años de edad en la ciudad de Rosario.
Reconocido hincha leproso, empresario y padre del capitán del seleccionado argentino, Lionel Andrés Messi.
Jorge fue el sostén y la… pic.twitter.com/8dFPMRdM9Z
— Newell’s Old Boys (@Newells) August 8, 2026
Reports around Messi’s father’s illness spread during the FIFA World Cup 2026, and just a few days later it was also confirmed to the public that he was battling illness. The Argentine captain was in tears during Argentina’s win over Algeria, where he netted a hat-trick. After scoring one of the goals, Messi was seen in tears, which added fuel to those reports.
Messi later confirmed that he got emotional due to something off the field. His family also released a statement to refute rumours that Jorge had passed away and claimed that he was making a steady recovery from the illness.
Jorge’s influence on Messi’s career
Jorge Messi played an important role in shaping Lionel Messi’s career. From the initial stages of his journey, Jorge was closely involved in taking important career decisions, which also led to his son leaving Argentina for Barcelona.
He also negotiated important deals that saw Messi moving to Paris Saint-Germain and then Inter Miami later on in his career. His family wasn’t spotted at the stands during the World Cup 2026, where Argentina lost the final to Spain.