ROSARIO — Jorge Messi, the father and longtime manager of footballer Lionel Messi, died on Saturday morning at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina. He was 68 years old.

The Sanatorio Centro announced the death through its director. Dr. Carlos Mackey, an administrator at the clinic, issued a statement offering condolences to the family while citing privacy regulations regarding medical details.

"We stand with his family and loved ones during this difficult time and offer our deepest condolences," Mackey said. He added that no further details regarding the medical circumstances would be provided out of respect for the family's privacy and in compliance with patient data protection rules.

Messi spent his final months alternating between the medical center in Rosario and his home. He was accompanied by his wife Celia and his children Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol during this period.

Newell’s Old Boys, the Argentine sports club in Rosario where Messi once played youth soccer, announced his death in a social media post. The club stated that he had undergone treatment in recent months for an unspecified illness.

"His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel, from his beginnings to the pinnacle of world football glory," Newell’s Old Boys stated. The club described him as the pillar who supported the career of the best player of all time with vision, rigour and affection alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.

Newell’s Old Boys also thanked Messi for teaching his son to love the club's colors. Messi had reached the youth ranks of the club as a midfielder before abandoning soccer to complete his mandatory military service in Argentina.

Jorge Messi worked as a steel executive and was a chemical technician by trade. He served as his son's agent and managed his career for decades. His responsibilities included negotiating contracts with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami.

He also managed Lionel Messi's image rights and investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants. In the early 2000s, Jorge Messi traveled with a young Lionel to Barcelona for a trial that launched the forward's European career.

Lionel Messi has previously spoken about the close bond he shared with his father. "I always needed my dad’s approval, ever since I was a kid," Lionel Messi said. "After every match, I’d ask him what he thought of how I played."

In a 2007 interview, Lionel Messi recalled the emotional struggles they faced during their early time in Barcelona. "My dad was always by my side," he 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." He noted that they pretended to be okay but were not, and that his father stayed with him because he wanted to stay.

The Messi family had issued a statement in July indicating that Jorge was dealing with a health issue. At that time, they said he was under medical supervision, recovering, and showing favorable progress given his condition. In July, Lionel Messi explained that tears he shed were due to something unrelated to football after going through a few difficult, complicated days.

Jorge Messi and Lionel Messi were convicted in Spanish courts on tax evasion charges in 2016. They avoided prison because their sentence was less than two years.

Tributes arrived from across the football world following the announcement. UNICEF posted on X expressing regret over the passing of a person committed to the rights of boys and girls and a benefactor of the organization.

The death follows an incident in June when Argentine TV host Florencia Peña resigned after incorrectly reporting that Jorge Messi had died. Peña said she relied on bad information fed to her through an earpiece at the time.

Why It Matters

Jorge Messi's death marks the end of a decades-long management partnership that guided Lionel Messi's career from youth trials in Barcelona to global stardom. As the architect behind major contracts and investments, his absence concludes a specific era of family-led oversight in modern football. The outpouring of condolences from clubs across three continents reflects his integral role in shaping the trajectory of one of the sport's most decorated figures.