Jorge Messi, the father of Lionel Andrés Messi, passed away last night at 10:00 PM in a medical center in Rosario, Argentina, Infobae has learned. The businessman and representative for the footballer—who also captains the Argentine national team—was 68 years old and had been battling a long-term illness.
Husband to Celia Cuccittini and father to Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol, Jorge was the pillar behind his son’s stellar football career. He was the family leader who became a guide, managing all of his son’s off-field obligations. He was the one who fought to secure the necessary treatment for Leo when he was just a youth player at Newell’s, and the one who stayed with him in Barcelona when they embarked on the adventure of trying their luck in Europe, while his mother managed the rest of the family back in Rosario.
He was an omnipresent figure around the superstar, always quietly watching his back. His voice was rarely heard; he gave only a few interviews over the years—such as with *El Gráfico*, Germany’s *Kicker*, or Spain’s *Informe Robinson*—and shared his testimony for books chronicling his son’s life. Yet, he largely kept to himself. His Instagram account featured sporadic posts highlighting Lionel’s achievements, but also celebrating moments with each of his children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
It was common to see him arriving at World Cups with the family group, which is why the absence of images of the Messi family in the United States during the World Cup—aside from the presence of Antonella and their children, Ciro, Mateo, and Thiago—had drawn attention.
The 39-year-old footballer from Rosario did not hide his tears after opening the scoring in the first match of the 2026 World Cup. After scoring a hat-trick, Leo Messi was asked about his reaction and explained: “It’s for a reason completely unrelated to sports; I’ve been through some difficult, complicated days. I am grateful to the entire delegation—as always—for standing by my side.”
