Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, has died at the age of 68 after a long illness, according to local media reports. The senior Messi reportedly died at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, on Saturday.
_x000D_There was no immediate official statement from the Messi family confirming the death or providing details about his illness.
_x000D_Jorge Messi remained an important figure in his son’s life and football career. He helped guide Lionel from his early days in Argentina through his historic rise in European and international football.
_x000D_ _x000D_Jorge Messi’s Role in Lionel Messi’s Career
_x000D_Jorge Messi played a major role in managing his son’s professional affairs.
_x000D_When Lionel Messi moved to Spain as a child to join Barcelona, his father accompanied him. The rest of the family remained in Rosario at the time.
_x000D_As Lionel’s career developed, Jorge handled many of his son’s professional matters and served as one of his representatives.
_x000D_His involvement continued through some of the biggest moments of Lionel Messi’s career. He remained a trusted adviser as his son became one of the most successful players in football history.
_x000D_ _x000D_Jorge Messi Maintained a Low Profile
_x000D_Despite the enormous global attention surrounding his son, Jorge Messi generally stayed away from the spotlight.
_x000D_He rarely sought public attention and mostly worked behind the scenes. His focus remained on supporting Lionel as the footballer progressed from a promising young player to a global sporting icon.
_x000D_That close involvement made Jorge an important part of Lionel Messi’s journey, even though he was rarely at the center of public attention.
_x000D_ _x000D_Messi Family Mourns Jorge Messi
_x000D_Jorge Messi’s death marks a major personal loss for Lionel Messi and his family.
_x000D_As of Saturday, Lionel Messi had not publicly commented on reports of his father’s death.
_x000D_Jorge Messi spent much of his life supporting his son’s extraordinary football journey. From Lionel’s move from Rosario to Barcelona to his emergence as one of the sport’s greatest stars, Jorge remained an important presence behind the scenes.
_x000D_The family has not yet released further details about the circumstances surrounding his death.
