Argentina mourns: Jorge Messi dies at 68 in Rosario

At 22:00 local time last night, the city of Rosario in Argentina fell silent. Jorge Messi, father of the World Cup-winning footballer Leo Messi, died in a private clinic after a long illness. He was 68 years old.

The news, first reported by Infobae without official confirmation, confirmed the passing of the businessman and representative closely linked to Argentina’s national team captain. Jorge Messi had spent much of his life in the orbit of his son’s glittering career, which reached its peak at FC Barcelona.

Leo Messi, aged 39, revealed his emotional state during the recent World Cup after scoring the opening goal in Argentina’s first match. “It’s about something completely unrelated to football,” he told reporters. “I went through some difficult, complicated days. I’m grateful to the entire delegation, as always, for being by my side.”

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The moment drew attention when former Argentina international Juan Pablo Sorín questioned Messi in the mixed zone. “You cried for your family, for your real family, and for this other family that is the national team, right?” Sorín asked. “Yes, yes… it’s mainly about the family,” Messi replied. “They’re always there, always supporting. Right now we’re going through a tough time, so a lot of things came together. But obviously also because of them—they’re an incredible group that keeps me happy.”

Days before the World Cup began, the Messi family issued a statement clarifying Jorge’s condition. It read: “He is under medical supervision, recovering, and showing favorable progress within the framework of his condition.”

The statement offered a rare public glimpse into the private struggles behind the scenes of Argentina’s most famous sporting family.

Argentina’s football community now faces a moment of reflection as it prepares to honor the memory of a man who played a quiet but significant role in the country’s greatest footballing achievements.