Naval 1893 · Midfielder · #0 · Italy · 26 yrs
Jorge Messi at age 68 in Argentina, where Lionel Messi arrived on Saturday night. Jorge Messi had been highly influential in his son's career, beginning with his move to Barcelona as a young buy to receive hormone treatments. The post Messi missing after father’s death as Miami lose in Leagues Cup appeared first on Soccer America.
Inter Miami posted a heartfelt message on social media in honor of the passing of Lionel Messi's father. Inter Miami paid tribute to Lionel Messi‘s father, Jorge, in a message posted to the club’s official X account Saturday afternoon. “Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family,” the club wrote, accompanying the message with a black graphic bearing the club crest. The post came after Inter Miami had remained largely silent on social media for much of Saturday following news of Jorge Messi’s passing, with the club also adding a black ribbon to its crest across its social profiles as a mark of mourning. Jorge’s connection to Inter Miami ran deeper than being Lionel’s father — he played a central role in the nearly three-year negotiation that brought Messi to the club in 2023, according to owner Jorge Mas, even personally informing Barcelona president Joan Laporta of Lionel’s decision to leave for Miami. As expected, Messi will not be part of Inter Miami’s squad for Saturday’s Leagues Cup clash against Monterrey, having traveled to Argentina to be with his family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family. pic.twitter.com/nJ3umEpirU— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 8, 2026 The tributes have extended well beyond Inter Miami, with messages of support pouring in from Argentina’s national team, Barcelona, Real Madrid, CONMEBOL and Newell’s Old Boys, among others, as the soccer world mourns alongside the Messi family. When could Messi return? Messi’s return to the pitch remains uncertain, with three upcoming matches floated as possible comeback points. Wednesday’s Leagues Cup clash with Club Leon on August 12 appears unlikely given the short turnaround, while Saturday’s MLS match against Nashville SC on August 15 is a more realistic possibility. The August 19 meeting with Philadelphia Union, however, is widely seen as the most likely option, giving Messi more time with his family before returning to full training and competition.
Jorge Messi was far more than a father to Lionel — from his first coach to his lifelong agent, he shaped nearly every step of his son's historic career. Jorge Messi, who passed away Friday at the age of 68 after a long illness, was far more than a father figure in Lionel Messi‘s career — he was its architect, working almost entirely behind the scenes for over two decades to shape one of football’s greatest stories. His role began long before the world took notice. Jorge served as Lionel’s first coach at Grandoli, a neighborhood club in Rosario, when his son was just four years old, laying the groundwork for the talent that would later catch the eye of Newell’s Old Boys. He remained a constant presence through Lionel’s diagnosis with growth hormone deficiency, standing by him through an expensive and complicated treatment process the family struggled to afford. It was Jorge who then made what’s often described as one of football’s riskiest decisions: uprooting the family to relocate to Barcelona, leaving behind stable work in Argentina. That gamble led directly to the club’s famous napkin agreement with Carles Rexach in December 2000, which secured both Lionel’s signing and the funding for his ongoing medical treatment. Lionel Messi with his father Jorge at Barcelona. (Imago) As Lionel’s career took off, Jorge’s role evolved from guardian into full-time representative. He left his job at the steel factory to become his son’s sole agent for the next 22 years, negotiating every major contract renewal at Barcelona, orchestrating the move to PSG, and closing the historic arrival at Inter Miami. Messi’s lifelong reliance on his father’s approval In an interview with Luzu TV earlier this year, Messi opened up about just how much he relied on his father’s perspective throughout his career, offering a rare glimpse into the emotional weight behind Jorge’s role in his journey. “On the sporting side, I was always my own harshest critic — I know when I did things well and when I did them badly. But I always needed my old man’s approval or opinion, ever since I was little. I’d finish a match and ask him about anything,” he said.
Following the passing of Lionel Messi's father, Jorge, Argentina sent its condolences and a message of support to the captain and his family. Lionel Messi is receiving an outpouring of support after his father, Jorge Messi, passed away Friday at a clinic in Rosario at the age of 68 following a long illness. Among the tributes was a message from Argentina’s national team. “Stay strong, Leo Messi and family. We are with you in this difficult moment. We send you our most heartfelt embrace,” the message read. Messi has since reportedly traveled to Argentina to be with his mother, Celia, and his siblings, stepping away from his soccer commitments during this difficult time. He is expected not to feature in Inter Miami’s squad for their Leagues Cup clash against Monterrey, and it remains unclear when he’ll return to action, with his comeback expected to depend entirely on his family’s needs in the coming days rather than any fixed timeline. Mucha fuerza, Leo Messi y familia. Estamos con ustedes en este difícil momento. Les enviamos nuestro más sentido abrazo. pic.twitter.com/k7TUlPkGTM— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) August 8, 2026 Barcelona also pay tribute FC Barcelona also joined the wave of condolences, releasing an official statement on behalf of the club’s president and board of directors to honor Jorge Messi’s legacy and offer their support to the Messi family. “Our deepest condolences. May Jorge Messi rest in peace. The President and the Board of Directors of FC Barcelona express their deepest condolences on the passing of Jorge Messi, father of former Barça player and legend Lionel Messi, and, on behalf of the entire Barça family, extend their condolences to the Messi family,” the statement read. Our deepest condolences. May Jorge Messi rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/PPSTTjHki1— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 8, 2026 “FC Barcelona thanks Jorge Messi for his commitment to our Club, for entrusting us with the beginnings and the most glorious years of his son Leo’s football career,” it concluded.
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