Lionel Messi and his father, Jorge Messi. Photo: Football Espana
Jorge Messi, father and long-time representative of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68.
Argentine news medium, Infobae reported on Saturday that Jorge died at about 10pm on Friday at a sanatorium in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness.
Jorge, who was married to Celia Cuccittini and had four children, Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol, played a major role in his son’s rise from a young player at Newell’s Old Boys to one of football’s biggest stars.
He was particularly instrumental in securing medical treatment for Lionel when the youngster required growth hormone therapy.
