Jorge Messi
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Jorge Messi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Jorge Horacio Messi 24 April 1958 |
| Died | 8 August 2026 (aged 68) Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Occupation | Sports agent |
| Spouse | Celia María Cuccittini |
| Children | 4, including Lionel |
| Relatives | Antonela Roccuzzo (daughter-in-law) |
Jorge Horacio Messi (24 April 1958 – 8 August 2026) was an Argentine businessman and sports agent. He was best known as the father and representative of the Argentine international footballer Lionel Messi, whose early and professional career he supported.[1] Following a prolonged illness, he died at a medical clinic in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, surrounded by his family.
Early life
[edit]Jorge Horacio Messi was born on 24 April 1958 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Of Italian descent, he grew up in Rosario, where he became interested in football from an early age. He played as a midfielder and was involved in the youth system of Newell's Old Boys.[2][3] However, he gave up playing football in order to complete his compulsory military service.[4][5]
After this period, he worked as a chemical technician and as an employee in the metallurgical industry. He worked in particular for the company Acindar, in the Rosario region.[2] Alongside his employment, he remained involved in amateur football and coached youth teams.[6]
Career
[edit]Lionel Messi beginnings
[edit]Jorge played a role in his son Lionel's early football development. In particular, he coached a youth team at Abanderado Grandoli, in the Las Heras neighborhood of Rosario. Lionel Messi began playing football there at the age of four.[6][7][8]
In an interview with Kicker magazine in 2013, Jorge recounted his son's early years at Grandoli and explained that he was one of his coaches at the time. He also described the initial difficulties related to covering Lionel's medical treatment and the family discussions that preceded his departure for Europe.[9]
Lionel Messi then joined Newell's Old Boys, where he continued his development before his family sought a solution that would allow them to finance his medical treatment and pursue his football career.[6]
Move to Barcelona
[edit]In 2000, when Lionel Messi was 13 years old, Jorge accompanied his son to Spain after FC Barcelona offered him the opportunity to join its training academy. He settled in Barcelona with Lionel to accompany him during his first months in Catalonia.[2]
According to accounts reported by the sports press, Jorge played an important role in supporting his son, particularly in his relations with the club and in negotiations concerning his career. The press also described the difficulties encountered by the father and son during their first years in Spain.[10]
Representative of Lionel Messi
[edit]Jorge gradually became Lionel Messi's representative and participated in managing his professional and commercial interests. He was notably associated with Leo Messi Management, which manages activities related to the footballer's image, contracts, and economic interests.[11]
Over the years, he participated in negotiations concerning his son's career and became a figure regularly approached by the media during transfer periods and contract negotiations.[12]
His role as a representative extended in particular to different stages of Lionel Messi's career at FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami CF.[9]
Legal proceedings in Spain
[edit]In 2013, Jorge Messi and Lionel Messi faced legal proceedings in Spain concerning the taxation of income derived from the footballer's image rights. Spanish authorities accused them of using corporate structures located in several countries to reduce their tax burden.[13]
The case resulted in the conviction of Lionel Messi in 2016 and financial penalties. Jorge Messi was also convicted as part of the proceedings and was required to pay a fine.[14]
In 2019, Jorge Messi and Lionel Messi were also subject to new proceedings in Spain concerning allegations related to taxation and the financial management of certain interests of the footballer. The case was ultimately closed in 2021.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Jorge Messi was married to Celia María Cuccittini. The couple had four children, including Lionel Messi.[15] He has three grandsons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro who were born to Lionel and his daughter-in-law Antonella Roccuzzo.[16]
Death
[edit]In 2026, Jorge's health had been reported to be deteriorated. In June, the Messi family confirmed that he was experiencing health problems and asked the media to respect his privacy.[17] An Argentine television presenter falsely reported Jorge had died during Argentina's opening game at 2026 FIFA World Cup.[18] She later resigned from her position.[19]
On 8 August 2026 following a prolonged illness Jorge died for an undisclosed illness in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, at a medical clinic of the age of 68.[20] Many footballers expressed their condolences, including from Lionel's long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Ronaldo, Luis Suárez, and major football clubs worldwide.[21] On 12 August 2026, Lionel Messi published an emotional open letter on Instagram paying tribute to his father. In the post, revealed an immense emotional toll of playing through the 2026 World Cup while his father's health deteriorated from a distance. Later by the time he returned home, his father's memory had faded so much that he believed Argentina had lost the final on penalties.[22] Following that he admitted that losing his lifelong guide has left him with serious doubts about continuing his professional football career.[23]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Messi's father Jorge dies aged 68 in Argentina". Reuters. 7 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Jorge Messi, père, agent et premier supporter de Lionel, est mort à 68 ans". La Voix du Nord (in French). AFP. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Décès de Jorge Messi, père et agent du footballeur argentin Lionel Messi". euronews (in French). 8 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Murió Jorge Messi, el papá de Lionel Messi". infobae (in Spanish). 8 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Muere a los 68 años Jorge Messi, padre y figura clave en la carrera de Lionel Messi; luchaba desde hacía tiempo contra una enfermedad". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). 8 August 2026. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Jorge Messi, le père et agent du Ballon d'or Lionel Messi, est mort à l'âge de 68 ans". Le Monde (in French). 8 August 2026. ISSN 1950-6244. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Le père de Lionel Messi est mort d'un cancer à 68 ans". www.ouest-france.fr. 7 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Jorge, le père de Lionel Messi, est mort à l'âge de 68 ans des suites d'une longue maladie". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Jorge Messi, Father and Agent of Lionel Messi, Has Died at 68: Here Is What Is Known". beIN SPORTS. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Jorge Messi, the father of Lionel, dies at 68". www.espn.com. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Jorge Messi, father and agent of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi, dies at 68". CNN. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Jorge Messi, father and agent of Argentina great, dies aged 68". The Guardian. 8 August 2026. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Messi, father guilty of tax fraud, given suspended 21-month sentences". Sports Illustrated. 6 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- 1 2 "Barcelona's Lionel Messi in tax court: I played football and trusted my father". ESPN FC. 2 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ↑ "Lionel Messi's father dies aged 68 after a long illness". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ Bendlin, Karli; Krauser, Emily (24 June 2026). "All About Lionel Messi's 3 Kids, Sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro". People. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Messi's father 'is going through a health situation,' says his family". CNN. 18 June 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Jorge Messi: Lionel Messi's father dies aged 68 after long illness". BBC Sport. 8 August 2026.
- ↑ "Argentinian TV host resigns after falsely reporting death of Lionel Messi's father". The Guardian. 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Muere a los 68 años Jorge Messi, padre de Lionel y la persona clave en su camino a la cima del fútbol". El Mundo (in Spanish). 8 August 2026. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ "Lionel Messi pays tribute to late father Jorge for impact on his career in Instagram post". www.espn.com. 12 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, dies at 68. Retrieved 13 August 2026 – via apnews.com.
- ↑ read, Sahil Kurup·3 min (12 August 2026). "How Jorge Messi inspired Lionel's FIFA World Cup Final run with Argentina". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
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