The father of Lionel Messi has passed away

Jorge Messi, father of eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and Argentina national team World Cup champion Lionel Messi, has passed away at the age of 68.

This was reported by the Argentine newspaper Infobae.

According to the publication, Messi Sr. died at a clinic in Rosario on Friday evening. The man had been battling an illness for a long time, though the specific disease was not disclosed.

In June, it was reported that Jorge Messi had been hospitalized due to health problems.

During the 2026 World Cup, an Argentine TV channel erroneously reported the death of the footballer's father, after which Messi nearly flew home. The journalist was subsequently fired and publicly apologized for the false information.

Immediately after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, Messi traveled to Argentina to visit his father.

Jorge was his son's agent throughout his entire sports career.