"There Was a Reason for 'Messi's Tears' at the World Cup": Father Jorge Passes Away at 68; "The Quiet Supporter Who Created the 'God of Football'"

*This content was translated by AI.

'God of Football' Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami)'s father and long-time supporter, Jorge Messi, has passed away at the age of 68.

According to Argentine media outlets Clarin and Infobae on the 8th (local time), Jorge Messi died in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, after battling a chronic illness for a long time.

He was more than just a father; he was the person who raised Messi into the world's best soccer player. In 2000, at age 13 when Messi required growth hormone treatment, Jorge traveled directly to Spain to secure Messi's signing and support contract with FC Barcelona. Even when some family members unable to adapt to life in Europe returned to Argentina, he stayed by his son's side to support his growth. It is reported that early in their settlement in Barcelona, the father and son, exhausted by the unfamiliar environment, would secretly wipe away tears in their separate rooms while pretending to be fine for each other to endure together.

Although not a professional manager, he faithfully served as Messi's agent for over 20 years with his unique intuition and caution. He led major negotiations ranging from contract renewals during the Barcelona era to transfers to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Inter Miami.

He deliberately avoided media exposure, taking on the role of a shield to block external pressure so that his son could focus solely on soccer. He is also famous for an anecdote where he protected his son's unique creativity by telling him, "Play in the way you are best at," even when youth team coaches demanded standardized tactics.

It was recently reported that the tears Messi showed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America were due to his father's illness. At the time, Messi revealed his feelings, stating he was "going through a difficult time due to family issues," while Jorge's health deteriorated, preventing him from appearing at local stadiums in the United States. The sad news arrived less than a month after the World Cup ended, adding to the sorrow.

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*This content was translated by AI.