Jorge Messi, father of Argentina captain and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, has passed away at the age of 68.
Multiple outlets in Argentina and Spain reported that he died in his hometown of Rosario at around 10 p.m. local time on Friday, with the news first surfacing through Argentine media before spreading internationally.
The Messi family had confirmed that Jorge was battling a health condition and receiving treatment, and had asked the public and press to respect their privacy during that time. His death also lands not long after an emotional moment involving his son during Argentina's 2026 World Cup campaign.
Beyond being Lionel Messi's father, Jorge was a central figure behind the scenes, helping manage his son's affairs and playing a key role throughout Messi's rise from a young prospect in Rosario to global football icon.
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