Lionel Messi returns to Rosario to mourn the death of his father Jorge

Sunday 09 August 2026 - 09:00

By: Sahili Aya

Lionel Messi returns to Rosario to mourn the death of his father Jorge

Lionel Messi has returned to Argentina to attend the funeral of his father, Jorge Messi, who died at the age of 68 in Rosario.

The Argentine football star arrived in the country during the night from Saturday to Sunday, just hours after the death of his father. Jorge Messi died at a clinic in Rosario, the family’s home city, although the circumstances surrounding his death have not been disclosed.

A return to Rosario

Messi travelled back to Argentina to pay tribute to his father, who played a major role in both his personal life and his extraordinary football career.

Jorge Messi was not only his son’s father but also served as his business representative. He remained a central figure throughout the player’s rise from a talented youngster in Rosario to one of the most celebrated footballers in the world.

The family’s connection to Rosario runs deep. It was there that Lionel Messi began developing his footballing talent before moving to Spain as a teenager to join Barcelona’s youth system.

A key figure throughout Messi’s career

Jorge Messi accompanied his son through some of the most important stages of his professional journey, including the difficult period surrounding his move to Barcelona during adolescence.

His role extended beyond the football pitch. As Messi’s representative in business matters, he was involved in managing aspects of a career that would eventually make his son an international sporting icon.

For Messi, the loss therefore marks the disappearance of a figure who had been closely connected to both his private life and professional development for decades.

Family mourning away from the spotlight

Messi’s return to Rosario comes at a deeply personal moment for the Argentine star, whose career has been played largely under intense international attention.

The details of the funeral arrangements have not been widely disclosed, and the family is expected to observe the mourning period privately.

Jorge Messi’s death comes after decades during which he remained alongside his son through the challenges, triumphs and extraordinary pressures of a career that transformed Lionel Messi into one of football’s most recognisable figures.