Lionel Messi has publicly thanked fans for their support during what he described as an "incredibly painful time" for him and his family following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at age 68. Jorge Messi, who managed his son's career, died on Friday, August 7, at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina.
The football world offered numerous tributes following the news, including from Messi's first club, Newell's Old Boys, as well as Barcelona and the Argentina national team. Messi missed Inter Miami's match against Monterrey to return to his hometown in the wake of his father's passing.
In a social media post, Messi shared a picture with his father, captioned "I love you, pa." He expressed gratitude for "all the love, respect and enormous consideration" shown to his family and thanked them for their messages, gestures, and for respecting their grief and privacy.
Jorge Messi had been a constant presence throughout his son's storied career, acting as his agent and overseeing his business affairs. In recent months, Jorge had been dealing with an undisclosed medical issue that had led to hospitalizations. This situation became public when Lionel Messi was seen crying on the pitch during the World Cup, later explaining that it was due to personal difficulties unrelated to sports.
Reports indicated Jorge Messi suffered a "medical episode" at his home in January and was hospitalized for cardiovascular and neurological tests, though the family kept his specific condition private. In June, a false report of Jorge's death led to a public apology from a journalist. Jorge Messi is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and their four children: Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias, and Maria Sol. He had worked in a steel factory before managing his son's career, which began in Argentina and led to stints with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and currently Inter Miami.