International soccer star Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, has died at 68 at a hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
HELLO! has reached out to Lionel's representatives for comment.
News of his passing was confirmed on Saturday after Jorge battled a prolonged illness. Newell's Old Boys, a soccer club in Rosario, announced his death on social media, saying: "Jorge was the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigour and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittin."
While Lionel, 39, has yet to comment on the tragic news, he and his family kept his illness quiet. But during the 2026 World Cup, Lionel couldn't hide his emotions over his father's illness. The player became visibly emotional after scoring in Argentina's first game against Algeria.
© Getty Images"Why did I cry? It was something completely unrelated to football," the Inter Miami player said after the game. "I went through some difficult days, but I'm grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it.
He continued: "What I'm living through now is the cherry on top. I'm very happy and grateful for this wonderful group, I enjoy it so much."
© AFP via Getty ImagesWho was Jorge Messi?
Jorge spent his early life in Rosario, Argentina as a manager at a steel factory. After marrying his wife, Celia Cuccittin, he welcomed four children – Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol.
When a young Lionel became interested in soccer, Jorge encouraged him. He coached at the local Grandoli club and later Newell's Old Boys. At the time, Lionel was diagnosed with a growth deficiency and needed an expensive hormone treatment.
But, as a factory worker, Jorge couldn't afford the bill. Instead he took Lionel to Spain and convinced officials at FC Barcelona to pay for the future star's treatment. Ever since that decision, Jorge served as his son's agent and has negotiated contracts on his behalf.
© Getty Images"We never really thought about it until he was 11 years old, and then he thought that he'd dedicate himself to soccer," Jorge told Pisano in 2011 about how he never pushed Lionel into professional soccer.
He continued: "He always played for fun, and we were happy to see him play not because we thought he'd be a triumphant success but simply because he enjoyed it and did it well."
© Getty ImagesJorge was extremely protective of his son, even as he became one of the best players the world has ever seen. In 2010, after Lionel received criticism when Argentina's national team didn't make it past the World Cup quarterfinals, Jorge stepped up.
"More than 100 players were called up for the national team, and only one was to blame?" Jorge told Sports Illustrated. "It's unfair. Leo has never gotten used to the situation here in Argentina. It's really tough for him to be in Barcelona, where he's really loved, and then come here and hear all that criticism."
