Messi’s Father Passes Away, Team Pays Tribute During Leagues Cup Match
Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Monterrey on Saturday night following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. Jorge passed away at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness, having been hospitalized in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
Messi returned to Argentina with his wife and three children on a private jet shortly after the news broke. A private funeral took place on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, just outside Rosario.
In a show of solidarity, the Inter Miami team honored Jorge Messi with a minute’s silence before the match. Players wore black armbands, and a tribute displaying Jorge’s name appeared on the big screens at Nu Stadium. The club also modified their social media profile pictures to include a black ribbon and expressed their condolences in a statement: “Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family.”
During the game, Messi’s Argentina teammate Rodrigo de Paul celebrated his opening goal by revealing a shirt bearing Messi’s name underneath his own. Fans also displayed handmade signs in support of Messi and his father.
Luis Suarez, who missed the match due to suspension, shared on Instagram that Jorge would continue to watch over his son “with pride, as he always did.”
Messi’s former club, Barcelona, held a moment of silence before their friendly match against Nottingham Forest in Udine, Italy. The club expressed gratitude toward Jorge for his commitment, highlighting his role in facilitating Messi’s early career by bringing him to Catalonia at the age of 13.
Support poured in from all corners, as fans left flags and flowers outside Messi’s childhood home in Rosario. Additionally, both Boca Juniors and River Plate organizations commemorated Jorge with moments of silence before their matches. The Argentine Football Association issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over Jorge’s passing and extended support to the Messi family during this challenging time.
Paris Saint-Germain, the club Messi played for from 2021 to 2023, also expressed their condolences, stating, “The club sends its full support to Leo, his family, and loved ones in this painful ordeal. May he rest in peace.”
Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup defeat by Monterrey on Saturday night after the death of his father, as his team-mates led tributes before and during the match.
Jorge Messi died on Saturday at the age of 68 following a long illness.
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Jorge, who had also been the Argentina forward’s agent since he was 14, passed away in a hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
Messi flew in a private jet back to Argentina from Miami later that evening with his wife and three children.
A private funeral took place on Sunday at a cemetery in the town of Perez, on the outskirts of Rosario.
Miami paid tribute to Messi’s father with a minute’s silence before kick-off, while players wore black armbands and Jorge’s name was displayed on the big screens at Nu Stadium.
The club added a black ribbon to their social media profile pictures, and in a statement said: “Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family.”
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Messi’s Argentina team-mate Rodrigo de Paul celebrated scoring the opening goal of the 2-1 defeat by taking off his shirt to reveal Messi’s.
Fans held up handmade signs offering their support to Messi and paying tribute to his father.
Miami striker Luis Suarez, who missed the match through suspension, wrote on Instagram that Jorge will continue to watch over his son “with pride, as he always did”.
Messi’s former club Barcelona observed a moment of silence before their 1-0 friendly win against Nottingham Forest in Udine, Italy.
In 2000, Jorge accompanied his 13-year-old son to Catalonia and played a key role in persuading the club to sign him.
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Barcelona thanked Jorge “for his commitment to our club, for entrusting us with the beginnings and the most glorious years of his son Leo’s football career”.
Fans left flags and flowers outside Messi’s childhood home in Rosario, while Argentine giants Boca Juniors and River Plate both held periods of silence before their matches.
The Argentine Football Association said it “deeply mourns with sadness and sorrow the passing of Jorge Messi, father of our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi”.
It added: “From here, we stand in solidarity with the entire family during this difficult time and send the most heartfelt, warm and affectionate embrace.”
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Paris St-Germain, for whom Messi played between 2021 and 2023 after leaving Barcelona, said: “The club sends its full support to Leo, his family and loved ones in this painful ordeal. May he rest in peace.”
Rodrigo de Paul celebrated his goal by revealing the shirt of his team-mate Messi [Getty Images]
A minute of silence was held before Boca Juniors’ 1-1 draw with Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires [Getty Images]
Inter Miami fans displayed handmade signs in support of Messi [Getty Images]
Tributes were left outside El Prado Cemetery in Perez, where Jorge Messi’s funeral took place on Sunday. [Getty Images]
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