The death of Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father, completely altered the Argentine captain’s immediate plans. The footballer was in Miami, where he was slated to continue his sporting schedule with Inter Miami, but the news prompted an instant decision: to return to Argentina to bid farewell to his father.
Jorge Messi passed away at 68 in Rosario, where he had been hospitalized. The death occurred in the early hours of this Saturday and was officially confirmed by the Sanatorio Centro de Rosario, where he was receiving medical care.
In light of the news, Lionel Messi began his return from the United States to be with his loved ones in this moment of deep sorrow.
Lionel Messi Returns to Rosario on a Private Flight
According to information released in the last hours, Lionel Messi would be traveling to Rosario on a private direct flight from the United States. The Argentine captain is expected to land in the city around 8:30 p.m. on this Saturday, where he will reunite with his family to bid farewell to his father.
The return comes just hours after the news of Jorge Messi’s death and amid strong confidentiality surrounding the family’s movements.
Lionel Messi Returns to Rosario to Say Goodbye to His Father
The footballer had been scheduled to take on a new engagement with Inter Miami for the Leagues Cup, but he would ultimately not be present at the match.
His priority became his family and returning to Rosario to accompany Celia Cuccittini, his siblings, and the rest of his loved ones in bidding farewell to Jorge.
The decision also meant putting his sporting schedule on hold, at least for now. For Messi, who has long maintained a strong bond with his family throughout his career, the death of his father represents a particularly painful blow.
The captain’s return also comes amid a strong effort to respect the family’s privacy and keep proceedings discreet.
Jorge Messi’s Health Had Concerned Lionel During the World Cup
Jorge Messi’s health had already been a concern for Lionel during the 2026 World Cup.
After the Argentina national team’s debut against Algeria, in which he scored three goals, the footballer broke into tears after scoring, hinting at a personal moment of difficulty.
Asked about his tears, Messi had explained that they were related to his family.
“Truthfully, it was mostly for the family. They are always there, always supporting. Now we’re going through a difficult moment,” he had said.
As days went by, the family announced that Jorge was under medical observation and undergoing a period of recovery.
After being discharged, he returned to Rosario to continue his treatment. However, in recent days he was readmitted and finally died in the early hours of Saturday.
Jorge Messi, a Key Figure in Lionel’s Life
Jorge’s passing means much more than the loss of a father for Lionel. For decades, he was linked to every major milestone in his son’s life and career.
He was the one who supported his early steps in Rosario’s football and who stood by him when, as a teenager, he had to make one of the most important decisions of his life: traveling to Barcelona to continue his football development.
Jorge initially stayed with Lionel in Spain, while Celia and their other children returned to Rosario. Those years were marked by uncertainty, distance, and family sacrifices, but they were also decisive for the future of the young footballer.
Over time, Jorge also became a central figure in his son’s professional career and accompanied him through his transformation into one of the greatest figures in the history of football.
The Father-Son Bond
Lionel Messi has spoken on several occasions about the importance his father had in his life. In a 2007 interview, when he was still very young, he recalled especially those first years in Barcelona.
“My dad was always with me. We went through a lot of rough times. Sometimes I would lock myself in my room to cry alone. Or he did the same, without me seeing. We pretended we were fine, but we were not,” he said.
In that same interview, Messi recounted a conversation he had with Jorge when they were going through one of the toughest moments of that adventure.
“My dad asked me: what do you want to do, do you want to keep going or should we go back? I wanted to continue and he stayed with me,” he recalled.
That presence endured throughout his career: from the streets of Rosario to Barcelona, through his years with the Argentina national team and his greatest triumphs.
Now, after Jorge’s death, Lionel Messi temporarily places football in second place and returns to Argentina to bid farewell to his father and support his family.
