Lionel Messi Mourns Father Jorge Messi's Passing at 68

Lionel Messi bid farewell to his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away at the age of 68 following a battle with cancer. Messi arrived in Argentina on a private flight from Miami late Saturday, accompanied by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children.

A private ceremony is scheduled at El Prado cemetery in Perez, near Rosario, where handwritten messages from fans were displayed. Jorge Messi, who had been Lionel's emotional anchor and agent since childhood, was a pivotal figure in his career, having introduced him to football at the age of four.

He left his job as a metalworker in Rosario to support Lionel's move to Barcelona at age 13 for treatment of a growth hormone deficiency. Messi's teammates, including Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo de Paul, expressed their support during this difficult time, with De Paul paying tribute by revealing Messi's jersey after a match.

Jorge's health issues had been a concern during the World Cup, prompting Messi to acknowledge personal struggles outside of sports.