Dies at 68 years old Jorge Messi, father of Leo Messi

BarcelonaJorge Messi, Lionel Messi's father, died on Friday night at the age of 68 in a medical clinic in Rosario, the Argentine star's hometown, due to complications in his health condition stemming from a serious illness. The news was made public by the Argentine news portal Infobae, as well as by the press in the Rosario region, and has been confirmed by ARA. Condolences, including from Barça, have been pouring in throughout the day.

Jorge Messi had been in a delicate state of health for some time. Two months ago, on the day the Argentine national team debuted in the World Cup with a victory (3-0) against Algeria, Leo Messi burst into tears after scoring the first goal of the match. After the match, the footballer explained that he had gone through "a few difficult days" due to a "personal and family" situation, but he did not give further details, beyond thanking the support of the coaching staff and his national teammates. After all sorts of speculation, the family then issued a statement confirming that Jorge Messi was ill.

Jorge Messi has been a key figure in Leo Messi's career, right from his early steps in Newell's youth categories to the medical treatment – hormonal growth – during his son's adolescence and his arrival at La Masia, at 13 years old. During Leo Messi's first years in Catalonia, his father remained by his side while the rest of the family continued in Rosario. Messi himself has recalled on several occasions the difficulties they faced during that period and highlighted his father's support when he had to decide whether to continue at Barça's academy or return home.

Always present in Leo Messi's career

Already in the player's professional stage, Jorge Messi was the representative and responsible for various management related to the footballer's career and commercial image. Also in the judicial journeys that his son and he himself had to face when Leo Messi was convicted, a decade ago, of three tax crimes. The Supreme Court considered that the footballer had defrauded 4.1 million euros to the Treasury during the years 2007, 2008, and 2009. Leo Messi returned the money and his father, considered a necessary cooperator, was also convicted.

Without public fanfare, he had always supported him and was a key figure in the decisions that have marked his son's professional career, from the frustrated renewal with Barça to the signing for PSG and, finally, Leo Messi's landing in Major League Soccer in the United States to play for Inter Miami. In fact, he was the first to know from the club, just five years ago, that Barça would not renew his son in the summer of 2021.that Barça would not renew his son in the summer of 2021.For years, Jorge Messi maintained a low profile and gave few interviews, although he habitually accompanied his son and the rest of the family on important occasions. "My father would get up at 4 in the morning [to go to work] and return at 9 in the evening for dinner, practically every day. We saw each other little and, when we saw each other, I enjoyed him; he never scolded me. The priority is always family, which is the most important thing. And I love football, I love it, I live for football, but my family is above anything else," the Argentine star said a few years ago. Jorge Messi was married to Celia Cuccittini and was the father of Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol.