Jorge Horacio Messi, the father and longtime agent of Argentina and Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68.

Jorge passed away on Friday night, August 8, at a medical facility in Rosario, Argentina, after a prolonged illness. He had been under medical care for several weeks.

The Messi family first informed the public about his health on June 18, after speculation began to spread online. In a statement at the time, the family said Jorge was receiving medical supervision and was “recovering and progressing favorably within the condition he is experiencing.” They also asked for privacy and urged people not to spread unverified information about his condition.

“Only Jorge’s immediate family has real and accurate information regarding his condition. Any information that did not come directly from them should not be considered valid or truthful.”

The family added, “At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence, and humanity,” as they requested that Jorge’s health and the well-being of his loved ones not become the subject of speculation.

Jorge was far more than Lionel’s father. He was the person who drove him to training as a child in Rosario, who negotiated his first contract with Newell’s Old Boys, and who later took a 13-year-old Lionel to Barcelona for a trial that would change football history. When Barcelona offered to pay for Lionel’s growth hormone treatment, it was Jorge who signed the napkin agreement with then-sporting director Carles Rexach that set the move in motion.

For the next two decades Jorge managed Lionel’s career off the pitch. He handled contract negotiations at Barcelona through six Ballon d’Or wins, four Champions League titles, and 10 La Liga titles. He was at the center of the decision to leave Barcelona in 2021 and join Paris Saint-Germain, and again in 2023 when Lionel chose Inter Miami over offers from Saudi Arabia and a return to Barcelona.

Those close to the family describe Jorge as fiercely protective and private. He rarely gave interviews and preferred to work behind the scenes, but his influence on Lionel’s career was constant. He was present at every major milestone, from the first goal at the Camp Nou to the World Cup final in Qatar in 2022 where Argentina beat France and Lionel lifted the trophy he had chased his entire career.

Born and raised in Rosario, Jorge worked in a steel factory before dedicating himself full time to managing his son’s career. He remained based in Rosario for much of his life, even as Lionel’s career took him to Spain, France and the United States. The city stayed central to the Messi family, and it is where Jorge returned for treatment in recent months.

After the June statement, the family asked fans and media to respect their privacy. That request was repeated in the days before his death as his condition worsened.

News of his passing has drawn messages from across football. Former Barcelona teammates, Argentina staff, and figures from Inter Miami have expressed condolences to Lionel, his mother Celia, and his brothers Rodrigo and Matías.

Jorge Messi will be remembered as the quiet force behind one of the greatest careers in sport. From Rosario to Barcelona, Paris and Miami, he was the constant presence guiding every step, negotiating every deal, and shielding his son from the noise that came with being Lionel Messi.