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Which place paid tribute to Lionel Messi’s father and holds special significance for the family?
A place deeply connected to the Messi family paid a heartfelt tribute to Jorge Messi.
El Bar VIP Rosario, one of the city’s most iconic dining establishments in Argentina, paid tribute to Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father, following news of his death at the age of 68.
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The venue decided to close its doors for the entire day this Saturday as a sign of respect and mourning for a man who had been closely connected to the family business for years.
How did the establishment pay tribute to Lionel Messi’s father?
The venue announced the closure through its social media accounts with an emotional message: “Abrazo gigante, jefe” (“Big hug, boss”). The post, dated August 8, 2026, informed customers that the bar would remain closed throughout the day.
The decision represented a simple but meaningful tribute on a day marked by grief in Rosario and among those who knew Lionel Messi’s father and agent personally.
Why was this place so special to the Messi family?
The gesture carries special significance because of Jorge Messi’s connection to VIP Rosario.
Lionel’s father joined the project in 2009, and from then on, the establishment became closely associated with the Messi family’s business interests.
VIP Rosario is located at 411 Rioja Street, in a prime area of the city directly across from the National Flag Memorial, one of Rosario’s most iconic landmarks. The venue operates as a bar and restaurant and, over the years, became one of the businesses most closely identified with the Argentine superstar’s family.
The importance of the venue to the Messi family goes beyond its role as a restaurant and bar. Rosario is the city where Lionel was born and where his football journey began, while Jorge played a fundamental role during those early years and later in managing his son’s career.
For that reason, the closure of VIP Rosario carries a strong symbolic meaning: a business linked to the Messi family chose to suspend its operations to pay tribute to Jorge Messi, who for decades stood by Lionel during the defining moments of his sporting and personal life.
