Jorge Messi cause of death: What happened to Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent who died at 68? A look at his career and role in making his son a football legend

Jorge Messi, the father and longtime agent of Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina, reports news agency AFP. His death was confirmed on Saturday by Newell’s Old Boys, the club where Jorge played football and where his son began his childhood career.

Jorge had been receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed illness. The exact cause of death has not been publicly revealed, and reports said the medical circumstances have been kept private out of respect for the Messi family.

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What was Jorge Messi's cause of death?

Jorge Messi's exact cause of death has not been disclosed.

The Messi family had previously confirmed that Jorge was undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed health condition and asked the media to respect their privacy. During the 2026 World Cup, the family appealed for "humanity" amid speculation about his health.

Recent reports confirm that Jorge died after treatment for an illness, but there is no verified public information identifying a specific disease or medical cause.

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Who was Jorge Messi?

Jorge Horacio Messi was much more than Lionel Messi’s father. He was his son's first coach, longtime adviser, agent and one of the most important people behind his extraordinary football career.

Born in Argentina, Jorge worked as a chemical technician and steelworker. He also played football as a midfielder and reached the youth ranks of Newell’s Old Boys before leaving the sport to complete mandatory military service.

His own football experience later helped him guide Lionel from a young player in Rosario to one of the greatest footballers in history.

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How did Jorge Messi help Lionel Messi?

Jorge played a crucial role when Lionel was still a child. He accompanied his son to Barcelona for the trial that eventually opened the doors to La Masia, FC Barcelona’s famed youth academy.

Lionel Messi eventually made his professional debut for Barcelona in 2005 and went on to win eight Ballon d’Or awards and the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina.

Newell’s Old Boys described Jorge's contribution as essential, saying his "constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel."

Lionel himself has repeatedly spoken about his father's influence.

"My father helped me enormously. He is very critical of me. That made me always want to push myself further," Lionel Messi told DirecTV Sports in 2022.

Messi once recalled his father's sacrifices

In a 2007 interview with Radio del Plata, Lionel Messi recalled how difficult the early days in Barcelona were for both him and his father.

“My dad was always by my side,” Lionel Messi said. “Sometimes I would lock myself in my room to cry when we arrived in Barcelona, or my dad would do the same without me seeing him, or thinking I didn’t see him. We pretended we were both OK, but we weren’t. My dad even asked me what I wanted to do when we were feeling down, if I wanted to stay or go back, and I wanted to stay, and he stayed with me.”

Jorge Messi's role as Lionel's agent

Jorge eventually became Lionel's agent and managed major aspects of his son's professional and business affairs. He was involved in contract negotiations with Barcelona and later played a role in Messi's moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. He also managed aspects of Messi's image rights and business investments.

Jorge's influence therefore extended far beyond football. For decades, he remained one of the central figures in Lionel Messi's professional life.

Jorge Messi and the tax case

Jorge Messi and Lionel Messi were also involved in a high-profile Spanish tax case concerning the footballer's image rights income. In 2016, both received suspended prison sentences after being convicted of tax fraud, while Jorge had previously paid millions of euros toward back taxes and interest.

Despite the controversy, Jorge remained closely involved in his son's career and business affairs.

A father behind one of football's greatest careers

For Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi was not simply an agent or business manager. He was the father who accompanied him through the uncertainty of leaving Argentina as a child, supported his move to Barcelona and remained beside him as his career transformed him into a global football icon.

Jorge Messi's death at 68 marks the loss of one of the most influential figures behind Lionel Messi's remarkable journey.