Lionel Messi Arrives in Argentina for His Father's Funeral
Lionel Messi returns to Argentina after the death of his father and lifelong mentor
Argentine football star Lionel Messi has returned to his home country following the sad passing of his father and agent, Jorge Messi. Jorge Messi passed away at the age of 68. The news was shared by Messi's childhood club, Newell's Old Boys.
According to reports, Jorge Messi passed away on Friday at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina. In a touching tribute, Newell's Old Boys shared: "His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel."
Family Asks for Privacy
During the recent World Cup, the Messi family had requested privacy from the media regarding Jorge's health. Messi arrived at the airport in Argentina dressed in black, alongside his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) also shared a heartfelt message of support. The federation stated: "On behalf of Spanish football, we wish to convey all our love and affection to Lionel and his loved ones during this time of deep sorrow."
A Special Father-Son Bond
Jorge Messi played a massive role in his son's historic football career. A former metal factory worker, Jorge was Lionel's very first coach in Argentina. He later became his manager and sole representative, guiding him through his legendary career at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami.
In a 2022 interview, Lionel Messi spoke about his father's impact, saying: "My father helped me enormously. He is very critical of me. That made me always want to push myself further."
The journey was not easy. In the year 2000, Jorge left his stable life and family in Argentina to move to Spain with 13-year-old Lionel to help him chase his football dreams.
Reflecting on those early days, Lionel Messi once shared: "When we arrived in Barcelona, I used to lock myself in my room to cry alone, and my father did the same, either without me seeing him or thinking I didn't see him. We pretended we were both fine, but we were struggling."
He added: "When things were tough, my father even asked me what I wanted to do, whether I wanted to keep going or go back home. I wanted to continue, so he stayed with me."
Jorge preferred to stay out of the public eye and rarely gave interviews. However, in 2013, he spoke about his close bond with his son, saying: "The day Leo stops playing, I think a dream will shatter for me, and I won't watch football anymore."
Overcoming Challenges Together
While their journey was filled with historic success, they also faced challenges together. In 2013, Spanish authorities raised questions about the management of Lionel's image rights. The matter was resolved in 2017. Later in 2019, they faced further tax-related inquiries, which were officially dismissed in 2021.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to Lionel Messi and his family during this difficult time.
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AI contributed to the creation of this article.