Speaker 1: Jorge Messi, the father, representative and lifelong manager of Argentine
Speaker 1: football icon Lionel Messi, passed away at the age of
Speaker 1: sixty eight at a medical clinic in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
Speaker 1: His death on Friday evening August seventh, twenty twenty six
Speaker 1: followed a prolonged battle with a chronic illness, concluding a quiet,
Speaker 1: yet deeply influential chapter in modern sports history. Before becoming
Speaker 1: one of the most prominent figures in global athletic representation,
Speaker 1: Jorgey worked as a steel factory section manager in Rosario
Speaker 1: while guiding his young son's early steps at local youth
Speaker 1: clubs Grandoli and Newell's Old Boys. Recognizing Lionel's extraordinary talent
Speaker 1: alongside the necessity of growth hormone treatment, Jorgey made the
Speaker 1: commitment in two thousand to relocate his family to Catalonia,
Speaker 1: securing the foundational agreement with FC Barcelona that launched a
Speaker 1: generational career. For over twenty five years, Jorge served as
Speaker 1: Lionel's sole advisor and business manager, single handedly negotiating landmark
Speaker 1: contract extensions in Spain before orchestrating high profile transfers to
Speaker 1: Paris Saint Germain in twenty twenty one and Inter Miami
Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three. Despite overseeing complex global brand rights,
Speaker 1: real estate investments, and multimillion dollar deals, Jorge maintained a
Speaker 1: famously low public profile, rarely granting press interviews and preferring
Speaker 1: to remain in the background while his son dominated the pitch.
Speaker 1: Health concerns regarding Jorge emerged publicly during the twenty twenty
Speaker 1: six FIFA World Cup. An emotional Lionel was seen in
Speaker 1: tears during Argentina's group stage victory over Algeria, later acknowledging
Speaker 1: the immense personal strain caused by his father's ongoing medical
Speaker 1: treatments in Rosario. The Messi family requested privacy throughout the
Speaker 1: tournament as Jorge spent his final months surrounded by his wife,
Speaker 1: Celia Caxatini, and children. Nouel's Old Boys released an official
Speaker 1: statement describing Jorge as the pillar and the person who
Speaker 1: supported with vision, rigor and affection the career of the
Speaker 1: greatest player of all time. Tributes continued to pour in
Speaker 1: from Commobal, European clubs and international teammates, honoring a father
Speaker 1: whose steadfast dedication shaped the career of football's most celebrated figure,