Jorge Messi, father of Lionel Messi, dies at 68

Jorge Messi, father and longtime agent of soccer star Lionel Messi, died at 68 in Rosario, Argentina, after a long illness, according to family statements and the Sanatorio Centro clinic Source: AP News. His death was confirmed by the clinic's medical director, Dr. Carlos Mackey, who cited privacy in withholding further details Source: CNN.

Family and career

Jorge Messi was a constant presence in his son's career, from early days at Barcelona to transfers to PSG and Inter Miami Source: CNN. He served as Lionel's representative for years and was described by Newell's Old Boys as "the pillar" supporting "the best player of all time" Source: AP News. Lionel Messi once said, "I always needed my dad's approval, ever since I was a kid" Source: Al Jazeera.

Tributes and reaction

Tributes poured in from football bodies, including the Argentine Football Association (AFA), CONMEBOL, and UNICEF, which called Jorge "a person always committed to the rights of boys and girls" Source: CNN. The Argentine national team posted "Fuerza Leo" Source: CNN.

Context and legacy

During the World Cup, Lionel Messi broke down in tears after scoring, later attributing it to "something unrelated to football" amid "difficult, complicated days" Source: AP News. The family had previously issued a statement about Jorge's health, criticizing media speculation Source: AP News. Jorge Messi, a former steelworker, played a key role in negotiating contracts and managing his son's image rights Source: AP News. In 2016, both were convicted of tax evasion but avoided prison Source: AP News.