Lionel Messi bids farewell to father Jorge at private funeral near Rosario

Private farewell in Pérez

Lionel Messi bid farewell to his father Jorge Messi on Sunday at a private funeral held at El Prado cemetery in Pérez, a town adjacent to Rosario, Argentina. The ceremony ended around noon Argentine time (15:00 GMT) and was conducted under strict privacy with a heavy security operation that began to be lifted progressively as the service concluded. Journalists, police, and some fans gathered near the cemetery, where handwritten messages and a large floral wreath had been placed at the gates since Saturday. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had arrived in Rosario at 20:40 local time on Saturday evening aboard a private flight from Miami, accompanied by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children. He travelled directly to Pérez and remained with family following his father's death.

Jorge Messi died at 02:00 local time on Saturday at a clinic in Rosario, at the age of 68. The family did not disclose the cause of death, though Argentine daily Clarín reported that he had been suffering from cancer, with some outlets specifying pancreatic cancer. He had been hospitalised for several months, including during the 2026 World Cup.

A father who shaped a career

Born in 1958 in Argentina's Santa Fe province, Jorge Messi was a metalworker in Rosario who became his son's first coach and, later, his agent and the administrator of the family's assets. When Lionel was 12, Jorge asked him whether he wanted to return to Rosario with the family or stay in Barcelona to pursue football. Lionel chose to stay, and Jorge remained with him in Spain while his wife Celia returned to Argentina with the rest of the family. Jorge accompanied his son through his entire Barcelona career until 2021, managing contracts and representing his interests, and continued as agent after Lionel joined Inter Miami.

Journalist Guillem Balagué, who knew the Messi family, recalled Jorge's emphasis on character alongside career. He described how Jorge once told Lionel to turn the car around and give autographs to fans that Ronaldinho had ignored.

Jorge was a good man who instilled solid values in his son.

Health concerns during the World Cup

Jorge Messi's unusual absence from the 2026 World Cup in North America drew attention. During the tournament, Messi burst into tears after scoring against Algeria, a scene linked to his father's health. The family later confirmed Jorge was under medical treatment without giving details, and some Argentine media had even prematurely reported his death, which the family denied. After the World Cup final, which Argentina lost to Spain, Messi returned to Rosario to spend time with his family. He had acknowledged dealing with a situation outside of sports.

I went through a few difficult, complicated days, but I am grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates, because they stood by me, as always.

Teammates and fans pay tribute

Argentina's football stadiums observed a minute of silence over the weekend. The Argentine Professional Football League and Newell's Old Boys, Messi's boyhood club, expressed condolences on social media. Boca Juniors midfielder Leandro Paredes, a national-team teammate, said he intended to travel to the funeral.

It will surely do him good for us to be there.

Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's close friend and Inter Miami teammate, paid tribute after scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Monterrey on Saturday, removing his shirt to reveal Messi's number 10 jersey underneath. At the cemetery gates, fans left handwritten messages reading "Stay strong, Leo, we love you" and "Stay strong, Messi family" alongside a floral wreath. A 15-year-old fan, Lucas Blanco, brought a handmade sign reading "Fuerza Messi" and placed it on the cemetery gate.