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At various moments in Lionel’s career, Jorge became a public spokesman for his son’s position, particularly during periods of uncertainty.
This was especially visible during Messi’s difficult departure from Barcelona.
After more than two decades associated with the club, Messi eventually left Barcelona in 2021 and joined Paris Saint-Germain.
Later, he made another major career decision by moving to Major League Soccer to play for Inter Miami.
Each stage represented a new chapter in a career that had already surpassed virtually every expectation.
Jorge continued to be part of the trusted circle surrounding his son.
## The Argentina years and the World Cup dream
For the Messi family, club football was only part of the story.
Lionel’s relationship with Argentina’s national team became one of the defining narratives of his career.
For years, he experienced enormous pressure to win a major international trophy with his country.
He came close several times, including appearances in major finals, but suffered painful defeats.
Eventually, that story changed.
Messi helped Argentina win the Copa América in 2021, ending a long wait for a major senior international trophy.
The greatest moment came in Qatar in 2022.
Argentina defeated France in the World Cup final after a dramatic match, and Lionel Messi finally lifted the World Cup.
For his family, the achievement represented the culmination of decades of sacrifice.
Jorge had witnessed the journey from the small football pitches of Rosario to the biggest stage in international sport.
The image of Messi holding the World Cup became one of the defining sporting photographs of the century.
## More than a football story
The story of Jorge and Lionel Messi was ultimately larger than football.
It was a story about family, migration, sacrifice and ambition.
The young boy from Rosario had to leave his country at an unusually young age to pursue his dream. His family had to make difficult decisions without knowing whether the gamble would succeed.
Jorge’s involvement meant sharing many of those difficult moments.
He witnessed Lionel’s early struggles, his rapid development, his rise to global fame and the enormous expectations that came with being considered one of football’s greatest players.
He also experienced the less glamorous side of sporting fame: negotiations, controversy, criticism and constant media attention.
Throughout Lionel’s career, Jorge remained one of the people closest to him.
## A private family figure
Despite his association with one of the most famous athletes in the world, Jorge was not primarily known for seeking the spotlight himself.
His importance came from his relationship with his family and from the role he played in helping Lionel navigate professional football.
The Messi family has traditionally maintained a strong connection to Rosario.
Lionel has repeatedly spoken about his Argentine roots and his attachment to his hometown, while Jorge and the rest of the family remained part of the support network surrounding him.
That connection to family was particularly significant as Messi’s fame expanded across continents.
## The reaction to his death
News of Jorge Messi’s death is expected to generate an enormous response across the football world.
Lionel Messi has spent much of his adult life under an extraordinary level of public scrutiny, but the death of his father represents a deeply personal moment for him and his family.
Tributes are likely to come from former teammates, coaches, football clubs, Argentine football figures and supporters around the world.
For many fans, Jorge will be remembered not because he scored goals or won trophies himself, but because he was present during the journey of the player who did.
Behind Lionel Messi’s historic career was a family that supported him through difficult decisions and enormous changes.
Jorge was at the center of that family story.
## A lasting legacy
Lionel Messi’s legacy in football is already secure.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, with a career defined by extraordinary individual performances, club success and international triumph.
But every great sporting story begins long before the stadiums and television cameras.
For Messi, it began in Rosario.
It began with a child who loved football, a family that recognized his unusual talent, and parents willing to make difficult sacrifices to give him an opportunity.
Jorge Messi was part of that story from the beginning.
His role was rarely as visible as his son’s. He did not receive the medals or stand on the podium after historic victories. Instead, his influence was largely exercised behind the scenes — through advice, representation, family support and the countless decisions that helped shape Lionel’s path.
The football world will remember Lionel Messi for his goals, records and trophies.
But for those who followed his journey closely, the name Jorge Messi will remain connected to the story behind the superstar: the father who helped guide a gifted boy from Rosario toward the summit of world football.
His death closes an important chapter in that extraordinary family story.
For Lionel Messi, however, the loss is not about records or football history. It is the loss of a father who had been beside him through the most important stages of his life.
And beyond all the trophies, awards and historic victories, that may ultimately be the most significant part of Jorge Messi’s legacy.