BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The family of global football icon Lionel Messi has confirmed Thursday that the 68-year-old father of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Jorge Messi, is recovering from an undisclosed medical issue. The announcement comes amid a wave of intense public and media speculation that erupted after Lionel Messi broke down in tears mid-match earlier this week, and the family has issued a sharp call for privacy around the strictly personal matter.
Jorge Messi, who has long served as his son’s agent and most trusted advisor throughout his historic football career, is currently receiving ongoing medical care. In an official statement released Thursday, the family shared that he is recovering well and making positive progress relative to his condition, but declined to share any further details about the specific nature of his health problem.
Speculation around Jorge Messi’s health began to spread rapidly on Tuesday, after the Argentina men’s national team captain gave an unusually emotional reaction following his opening goal in a friendly World Cup warm-up match against Algeria. Argentina went on to secure a dominant 3-0 win, with Messi scoring a hat trick, but all attention quickly shifted to the star’s uncharacteristic show of emotion: he collapsed into tears after putting his side ahead, and later acknowledged the moment was tied to personal struggles unrelated to football.
“It was a matter unrelated to sports. I went through some difficult and complicated days,” Messi told reporters shortly after the match, confirming off-pitch turmoil without elaborating further.
For nearly his entire professional career, Jorge Messi has been a constant presence alongside the star. He traveled with him through his trophy-laden stints at Barcelona, his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, his current move to Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, and every major international tournament with Argentina, including the 2022 World Cup victory that cemented Messi’s legacy as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history. Beyond his role as an agent, he is widely recognized as one of the most foundational sources of personal and professional support in Messi’s life.
In their statement, the Messi family expressed profound frustration over the handling of the private health issue, saying they are deeply distressed by what they called a lack of sensitivity, respect, and ethical scruples from some media outlets and public figures who have turned the confidential family matter into public fodder.
“We ask for responsibility, prudence, and humanity. A person’s health and the peace of mind of those around them should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media attention,” the statement concluded.