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Who was Jorge Messi? The father who accompanied Lionel from Rosario to the top of world soccer
Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi's father and longtime representative, died Saturday at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina, the same city where he was born and where a family journey began that would eventually become inseparable from the career of one of the world's biggest soccer stars.
Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi's father and longtime representative, died Saturday at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina, the same city where he was born and where a family journey began that would eventually become inseparable from the career of one of the world's biggest soccer stars.
Jorge Horacio Messi did much more than accompany his son through his early years. As Lionel's career grew, he became his representative and played a key role in managing the family's multimillion-dollar financial structure.
Who was Jorge Messi?
Jorge Horacio Messi was born in Rosario in 1958. Before soccer transformed his family's life, he spent years working for steel company Acindar.
After studying to become a chemical technician, he eventually worked as a quality supervisor.
Together with his wife, Celia Cuccittini, he had four children: Rodrigo, born in 1980; Matías, in 1982; Lionel, in 1987; and María Sol, in 1993.
The decision that changed Lionel Messi's career
The year 2000 became a turning point for the Messi family. Lionel was already showing his enormous talent in Newell's Old Boys' youth system when a compilation of his best plays reached scouts from Barcelona.
The Spanish club offered him the opportunity to attend a trial, and Jorge made a life-changing decision: he traveled to Catalonia with his 13-year-old son.
That period also produced the famous story of Messi's first agreement written on a napkin, signed by Carles Rexach and Horacio Gaggioli.
Jorge played an important role in securing the conditions needed for his son's development in Barcelona, pushing for the club to cover the cost of the medical treatment Lionel needed for his growth.
Leaving his job to support Messi's dream
Jorge eventually left his position at Acindar and began arranging for his wife and their other three children to move to Spain.
His own professional life also changed completely. He began working full-time to represent Lionel's financial interests while the young Argentine continued his development at La Masia.
Jorge maintained a low public profile over the years but became a central figure in negotiations surrounding his son's career and in managing the family's wealth.
Jorge Messi dies at 68 in Rosario
Jorge Messi died in the early hours of Saturday at the age of 68 in Rosario.
According to information released by Sanatorio Centro, he had been hospitalized due to complications from a long-term illness.
His story ultimately became inseparable from Lionel's: from their decision to travel together to Barcelona in 2000 to the decades he spent representing and accompanying his son throughout his career.
