Jorge Messi, father of Lionel Messi, passes away at 68

Jorge Horacio Messi, the father of football star Lionel Messi, died on August 8, 2026, at the age of 68. He passed away in a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, following a long battle with a serious illness. His health had deteriorated significantly in recent times, leading to periods of hospitalization and care at his home surrounded by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and their family.

Born on January 1, 1958, in Rosario, Jorge Messi worked for many years in a metallurgical plant and played a foundational role in the career and life of his son. Lionel Messi, who had previously alluded to difficult personal times during the World Cup, remained in constant communication with his family throughout his father's illness while fulfilling his professional obligations abroad.

The death of Jorge Messi marks the end of a life that was central to the rise of one of the greatest football stories of the modern era. While rumors of his passing had circulated prematurely in the media in the past, these reports were previously denied. The family is now grieving the loss of a man whose influence on the sporting world remains significant.