Messi returns to Argentina to bid farewell to his late father

Superstar Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina to bid farewell to his father and agent, Jorge Messi, his steadfast support throughout the difficult years the global icon endured during his adolescence at Barcelona, ahead of the final farewell ceremonies. Messi’s father, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, died two days ago at the age of 68 in a clinic in the city of Rosario. The cause of death has not been announced. The Argentine star arrived on a private jet from the United States, accompanied by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children, most of whom were dressed in black.

Jorge Messi’s funeral was held yesterday in a private family ceremony in the town of Berisso, near his hometown of Rosario, north of Buenos Aires, with Lionel and family members in attendance. The Argentine Football Association and FC Barcelona, which welcomed Messi when he was 13 years old, were among the first to offer condolences. In a statement, the Catalan club said: “Barcelona thanks Jorge for his commitment to our club and for his trust in us during the early stages and career of his son Leo during its golden years.”

At Inter Miami CF, where Messi has played since 2023, his teammates wore black armbands during their match against Monterrey yesterday. Jorge Messi was a pivotal figure throughout his son’s career, serving as his first coach, the father who gave up everything to accompany him to Spain, and the agent who negotiated lucrative contracts on his behalf.

Jorge worked in the metal industry in Rosario, located 340 kilometers north of Buenos Aires, and also managed youth teams at the local Grandoli club. He gave the future Argentina captain his first opportunity to play when he was four years old on the dirt pitches where Argentine children typically played. His life changed completely in 2000 when Barcelona invited the rising talent, then 13 years old, to move to Catalonia to undergo treatment for a growth hormone deficiency while playing for the club’s youth teams. At that time, Jorge left his stable job in Argentina, along with his wife and three other children, and moved to Spain with Lionel.

Later, Jorge signed his son’s first contract with Barcelona, becoming his sole agent and representative, first at Barcelona, then at French club Paris Saint-Germain, and later at Miami. However, his life was not without controversy. In 2013, Spanish authorities accused the father and son of using a network of companies in the UK, Switzerland, Wales, and Uruguay between 2007 and 2009 to collect income from football image rights and evade taxes in Spain. The case was closed in 2017 after fines amounting to millions of dollars were imposed.