Jorge Messi, father and agent of Lionel Messi, dies at 68 after long illness
Jorge Messi, father and longtime agent of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, died on Friday at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, following months of undisclosed treatment for a serious illness. He was 68.
TL;DR
- Jorge Messi, 68, died Friday at a hospital in Rosario after a long illness his family had kept private.
- He was the father and longtime agent of Lionel Messi, guiding his career from boyhood onward.
- Newell’s Old Boys, FC Barcelona and UNICEF are among the organisations that have paid tribute.
- He is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and children Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol.
What we know so far
Dr. Carlos Mackey, medical director of Sanatorio Centro in Rosario, confirmed that Jorge passed away in the early hours of the morning, according to CNN. Mackey said no further details about the cause would be released, out of respect for the family’s privacy.
Outlets agree that Jorge had spent months receiving care for a long-term illness the family largely kept private, ESPN reported.
Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty
The World Cup moment that hinted at his illness
In June, during Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria, Lionel was visibly emotional after scoring. He later said the tears had nothing to do with football, adding he’d been through “difficult, complicated days,” per ESPN.
A week on, the family confirmed in a statement that Jorge was unwell and under medical supervision, without detailing his condition, Yahoo Sports reported. Argentina went on to reach the final, where Spain won 1-0 in what Screen & Story covered as an emotional finish to the tournament.
Tributes from football’s biggest institutions
Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario club where Lionel began his youth career, credited Jorge as central to his son’s rise, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini, according to CNN. FC Barcelona also released a statement thanking Jorge for entrusting the club with Messi’s early years, ESPN reported.
UNICEF, for which Lionel serves as a goodwill ambassador, and the South American confederation CONMEBOL both sent condolences, per CNN.
From a napkin deal to Inter Miami — and a UK connection
Jorge was pivotal in moving his son to Barcelona as a boy, after Argentine clubs wouldn’t fund the growth-hormone treatment Lionel needed. The move to Barcelona was reportedly agreed on a napkin in 2000, according to Forbes.
He went on to work as his son’s agent through stints at Barcelona and beyond, including the current chapter at Inter Miami. The Florida club is co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, who has repeatedly called Lionel the greatest player of all time since helping bring him to Miami in 2023.
In 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought an 18-month sentence against Jorge over unpaid taxes from 2007-09; Lionel was cleared of wrongdoing in the same case, according to CBC.
Key facts
68 Jorge Messi’s age at death Source: CNN
€4 million Amount at the centre of Jorge Messi’s 2016 Spanish tax fraud case Source: CBC News
Jorge is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and his four children: Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol, according to Forbes.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed August 8, 2026.
Abi has been writing about gaming, sports, puzzles, and UK entertainment since 2019. She covers everything from game reviews and festival previews to your daily Wordle hints — always from a British perspective.
