09.08.2026 20:20
Argentine footballer Lionel Messi's 68-year-old father, Jorge Messi, was laid to rest in a private funeral ceremony at El Prado Cemetery in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Messi arrived in Argentina from the United States on a private plane and was present at the ceremony with his family, where he was seen struggling to stand.
World-renowned Argentine footballer Lionel Messi experienced one of the most painful days of his life.
MESSI'S FATHER BID FAREWELL TO ETERNITY
The star footballer's father, Jorge Messi, who passed away at the age of 68, was laid to rest in a private funeral ceremony held at El Prado Cemetery in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina.
HE HAD DIFFICULTY STANDING
Lionel Messi, upon receiving the heartbreaking news of Jorge Messi, who succumbed to complications from a long illness at Sanatorio Centro Hospital in Rosario, arrived in Argentina from the USA on a private plane with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children. The star footballer attended the ceremony alongside his mother Celia Cuccittini and his siblings Matias, Rodrigo, and Maria Sol. Messi was visibly deeply distressed and had difficulty standing.
FUNERAL ATTENDED BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND CLOSE CIRCLE
Only family members and close acquaintances attended the funeral, where extraordinary security measures were taken to preserve the family's privacy. During the ceremony, El Prado Gardens Cemetery was completely closed to outside visitors.
GREAT SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC
Hundreds of fans, unwilling to leave Messi alone on his sorrowful day, flocked to Rosario Airport and the cemetery surroundings, leaving messages of support with banners reading "Stay strong Leo, we love you." Rosario Mayor Pablo Javkin also conveyed his condolences to the family and stated that the local government had taken all measures to ensure their privacy.