Lionel Messi has returned to Argentina following the death of his father Jorge, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 68 after a long illness. Jorge Messi, who had served as his son’s agent since Messi was 14, died in a hospital in his hometown of Rosario. Messi flew back from Miami on a private jet that evening, accompanied by his wife and three children.
A private funeral was held on Sunday at a cemetery in the town of Perez, on the outskirts of Rosario. Back in Miami, the club paid tribute before kick-off with a minute’s silence, players wore black armbands, and Jorge’s name was displayed on the big screens at Nu Stadium. The club also added a black ribbon to their social media profile pictures and released a statement reading: “Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family.”
Tributes poured in from across the football world. Argentina team-mate Rodrigo de Paul celebrated scoring the opening goal of a 2-1 defeat by removing his shirt to reveal Messi’s underneath, while fans held up handmade signs in support of the family. Miami striker Luis Suarez, absent through suspension, posted on Instagram that Jorge would continue to watch over his son “with pride, as he always did”.
Messi’s former club Barcelona observed a moment of silence before their 1-0 friendly win against Nottingham Forest in Udine, Italy. The club thanked Jorge “for his commitment to our club, for entrusting us with the beginnings and the most glorious years of his son Leo’s football career” — a relationship that began in 2000 when Jorge accompanied his then 13-year-old son to Catalonia and played a key role in persuading Barcelona to sign him.
In Rosario, fans left flags and flowers outside Messi’s childhood home. Argentine clubs Boca Juniors and River Plate both held periods of silence before their respective matches, and the Argentine Football Association said it “deeply mourns with sadness and sorrow the passing of Jorge Messi, father of our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi”.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
