Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of soccer player Lionel Messi, died Saturday at the age of 68. The Rosario-based Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys reported that he died at a hospital in the central Argentine city of Rosario.
Jorge Messi had served as the primary agent for his son, who currently serves as the captain of the Argentina national team. The club did not report a specific cause of death in its initial announcement.
The news was confirmed by Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys, the team where Lionel Messi began his youth career before moving to Europe. Jorge Messi had been a visible figure throughout his son's professional career, managing the business and contractual affairs of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.
On a professional scale, Jorge Messi managed the contracts and commercial interests of a player whose earnings and endorsements are valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The management of these significant financial assets and legal agreements, which affect various stakeholders in the sports and marketing industries, must now transition to new leadership. This change in representation occurs while Messi continues his active playing career for both club and country.
The knock-on effects could involve changes to how the Messi brand is managed and how future contract negotiations are handled with clubs and sponsors. Future policy regarding the athlete's charitable foundation and business ventures in Rosario and abroad may also be adjusted under new management. What happens next has not been fully detailed, though funeral arrangements in Rosario are expected to follow the announcement. Specific dates for memorial services or a transition plan for Lionel Messi’s professional representation have not yet been reported.