Barcelona have paid tribute to Jorge Messi, the father and long-time representative of Lionel Messi, following his death at the age of 68.
The Catalan club released an official statement on Saturday expressing their condolences to the Messi family after Jorge passed away in a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, following a long illness.
Barcelona highlighted the important role Jorge played throughout his son’s career, particularly during the early stages of Messi’s rise from a young talent in Argentina to one of the greatest footballers in history.
Beyond managing his son’s affairs, Jorge was a key figure during Messi’s move to European football and the years that followed at Barcelona, where the forward became the central figure of the club’s most successful era.
The club acknowledged the trust placed in Barcelona by the Messi family throughout that journey, from the Argentine’s arrival in Catalonia as a teenager to his record-breaking achievements in a Blaugrana shirt.
In their statement, Barcelona said: “The President and Board of Directors of FC Barcelona express their deepest condolences on the passing of Jorge Messi, father of the former player and Blaugrana legend Lionel Messi, and, on behalf of the entire Culé family, extend their sympathies to the Messi family.”
The club also thanked Jorge for his trust and commitment over the years before concluding their tribute with the message: “May he rest in peace.”
Jorge Messi remained a constant presence throughout Lionel Messi’s career, playing an influential role behind the scenes during the forward’s rise to global stardom.
For Barcelona supporters, his passing marks the loss of a figure closely connected to the story of the club’s greatest modern-era icon.
