Jorge Messi celebrates following Argentina's victory in the 2022 World Cup final. (Getty Images: Jean Catuffe)<\/p>\n
Jorge Messi, the father of Argentinian football legend Lionel, has died aged 68 after a short illness.<\/p>\n
Jorge acted as his son's manager throughout his career after working as a chemical technician and steelworker.<\/p>\n
All football games in Argentina are observing a moment of silence while players wear black armbands.<\/p>\n
Jorge Messi, the father of soccer star Lionel Messi, has died at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.<\/p>\n
The Rosario-based Club Atl\u00e9tico Newell's Old Boys announced his death in a social media post on Saturday that said he had undergone treatment in recent months for an unspecified illness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The post described him as "the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigour and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini".<\/p>\n
Lionel Messi embraces his father Jorge Messi after the World Cup final in Qatar in 2022. (Getty Images: Robert Michael)<\/p>\n
In a statement, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) also offered its condolences "with respect and affection for Lionel".<\/p>\n
Lionel Messi led Argentina to a runner-up finish in this year's World Cup. In the team's first match, against Algeria, he was visibly emotional after scoring the first of his three goals. He said later that he wept for "a reason unrelated to sports".<\/p>\n
"I went through some difficult, complicated days," he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
"I am grateful to the delegation, to all my teammates, because they were always by my side wishing me strength so that I would be OK."<\/p>\n
Media reports at the time outraged the Messi family, which days later released a statement confirming that "Jorge is experiencing a health issue", without specifying the nature of his condition.<\/p>\n
"A person's health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest," according to the statement, which also expressed "discomfort at the lack of sensitivity, respect and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter".<\/p>\n
A minute of silence is held in memory of Jorge Messi, Leo Messi's father, during the FVG Cup match between Udinese Calcio and Nottingham Forest in Italy. The FVG Cup is a three team tournament that also includes Barcelona. (Getty Images: Mattia Radoni\/NurPhoto)<\/p>\n