Jorge Messi, father and longtime agent of Lionel Messi, dies at 68
Jorge Messi, father and longtime agent of football legend Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68.
He passed away on the night of Friday, August 7, 2026, at a clinic in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, after a prolonged illness. The family confirmed the news to Reuters. The medical center involved and Lionel’s childhood club Newell’s Old Boys also acknowledged the death. At the time of early reports, a full public family statement had not yet been widely released.
Jorge Horacio Messi was far more than a supportive parent. He guided his son’s career from the early days at Newell’s Old Boys, helped secure critical growth-hormone treatment when Lionel was a child, accompanied him to Barcelona as a teenager, and later served as his primary agent and business manager. He is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, sons Lionel, Rodrigo and Matías, daughter María Sol, and grandchildren.
His health struggles became public during the 2026 World Cup, when Lionel appeared emotional after scoring and later referenced difficult personal days. False reports of Jorge’s death circulated at the time, prompting a firm family statement that he was under medical care and recovering. He had spent periods in treatment in Rosario and elsewhere in the months that followed.
The football world is mourning a key figure behind one of the sport’s greatest careers.