Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, has died
Jorge Messi, the father of Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi, died at the age of 68 at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina. The soccer player’s family confirmed to Reuters that he died on Friday evening after a long illness, Al Jazeera English reports.
In recent months, Jorge Messi had been alternating between a medical center in Rosario and his home. His wife, Celia, and their children, Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol, were by his side, the family said.
Lionel Messi spent time with his father after the World Cup and then returned to his club, Inter Miami. According to Al Jazeera English, the soccer player resumed playing for the team a week ago.
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Jorge Messi supported his son throughout his soccer career, starting from Lionel’s early years at Barcelona. For several years, he also served as the soccer player’s agent. Newell’s Old Boys, the youth club of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, honored the memory of Jorge Messi, recognizing his constant support and role in his son’s career.
During the World Cup, the family reported that Jorge Messi was undergoing medical treatment. At the time, after the tournament’s first match against Algeria—in which he scored a hat trick—Lionel Messi attributed his tears during the goal celebration to difficult days unrelated to soccer.
