Jorge Messi, father and manager of Lionel Messi, passed away on Saturday at a hospital in the Argentine city of Rosario at the age of 68. The club Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys confirmed his passing after he had struggled with an unspecified illness during the previous months.
Fundamental role: The club described him as “the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigor, and love, sustained the career of the best player of all time” alongside his wife Celia Cuccittini.
Background: Jorge was a chemical technician and metalworker, and had been a youth football player at Newell’s before having to leave the sport to complete his military service.
Family support: He was the one who guided Lionel’s career, accompanying his son to Barcelona in the 2000s and negotiating his contracts and business deals afterward.
Clubs such as FC Barcelona, Inter Miami, PSG, as well as CONMEBOL and the Argentine Football Association, sent their condolences, with the Argentine federation ordering a minute of silence and black armbands at matches.
Jorge is survived by his wife Celia and his four children: Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol.