Heartbroken Lionel Messi confronts grief as global tributes pour in

Heartbroken Lionel Messi contrasted the global outpouring of tributes with his private grief, thanking fans on Instagram after missing Inter Miami’s loss to Monterrey and recalling the emotional moment that followed his father’s death on Friday, August 7, and during the World Cup in Kansas City.

By OLLIE LEWIS, DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR, the article was published at 14:02 on 12 August 2026 and updated at 14:12 the same day. It reports on Lionel Messi’s public response after his father’s death.

Jorge’s sudden passing

Jorge Messi, who managed his son’s career, died in a hospital in Rosario close to the family home at around 10 pm local time on Friday, August 7. The death triggered an outpouring of grief from Messi’s family.

Tributes poured in from the football world, including Messi’s first club Newell’s Old Boys, his former club Barcelona, and the Argentina national team. These organisations posted emotional messages honoring Jorge’s influence on his son’s career.

Missed match and Instagram gratitude

Messi missed Inter Miami’s defeat by Monterrey on Sunday to return home following his father’s passing. He returned to social media on Wednesday, posting an Instagram message thanking fans for their support.

He wrote, “I want to sincerely thank everyone for all the love, respect and enormous consideration you have shown me and my family during this incredibly painful time following the loss of my dad.” He added, “Thank you for being there for us, for every message, every gesture and, above all, for respecting our grief and our privacy.”

Messi also shared a picture with his father, captioned “I love you, pa” in Spanish. Jorge had acted as Messi’s agent and de‑facto business manager, overseeing the multi‑million‑dollar empire built off the pitch.

Earlier health scares and false reports

Earlier in the year, Jorge suffered a “medical episode” at his home in January and underwent cardiovascular and neurological tests, though no official diagnosis was released. In June, an Argentine broadcaster mistakenly announced his death, later issuing an emotional apology and stepping down.

Lionel, the third of four children of Jorge and Celia Cuccittini, has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and a younger sister, Maria Sol. The family split time between Rosario and Miami, where Messi currently plays for David Beckham’s Inter Miami in MLS. Messi’s career began at Newell’s Old Boys, moved to Barcelona’s La Masia academy in 2000, then to Paris Saint‑Germain in 2021, and finally to Inter Miami in 2023, where he remains at age 39.