Lionel Messi's Father Jorge Dies at 68; Family Considers Legal Action Over Funeral Coverage

Jorge Messi, father and longtime agent of Argentine football star Lionel Messi, died on August 8, 2026, at age 68 in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness. Jorge Messi was a central figure in his son's career from the earliest stages—accompanying the young Lionel to Barcelona in the early 2000s when he was just 13 years old, securing his place at La Masia academy, and later managing his professional contracts and business affairs as his agent.

The death came after months of health concerns that became public during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June. When Lionel Messi became visibly emotional after scoring against Algeria, he later explained his tears were due to "difficult and complicated days" unrelated to football. The family had issued a statement at the time requesting privacy and expressing concern about media speculation regarding Jorge's health.

Following Jorge's death, Lionel Messi left Inter Miami and traveled to Argentina to be with his family. He attended a private funeral ceremony held at a cemetery in Pérez, near Rosario, with restricted access limited to family and close relatives. The family had requested enhanced security measures, including drone restrictions, to protect the event's privacy.

However, unauthorized photographs of the funeral were leaked to media outlets and circulated online. According to reports, media teams positioned themselves near the cemetery to capture footage, and at least one drone operator was detained by Rosario airport security after operating near the airport during the funeral proceedings. Messi's legal team announced plans to pursue legal action against the media outlets responsible for the unauthorized coverage, citing violations of the family's privacy rights.

Meanwhile, Messi has suspended his activities with Inter Miami indefinitely to remain in Argentina with his family during this period. He did not participate in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Monterrey on August 8, with a minute of silence held in his honor before kickoff.