Everything to know about chronic disease that killed Jorge Messi

Jorge Messi, father and agent of football legend Lionel Messi, passed away at age 68 on August 7, 2026, after a prolonged battle with an undisclosed chronic illness.

While the family has not been publicly open about the specific condition, here’s what is known about his health battle.

What was Jorge Messi’s illness?

The Messi family has kept details of Jorge’s condition private, releasing only limited information. In June 2026, the family confirmed in an official statement that he was “going through a health situation” and was “under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favourably within the condition he presents.”

Jorge developed some health problems in the year 2026. He was admitted to the hospital at different times in the year while in Rosario, Argentina. Messi later disclosed that his father would accompany him to the U.S. for a second opinion regarding his health.

The illness took an emotional toll on the Argentina captain. During the 2026 World Cup, after scoring a hat trick against Algeria, Messi broke down in tears. He later explained that tears were “for reasons completely unrelated to sports. I’ve had some difficult, complicated days…We’re going through a difficult time right now.”

Jorge’s medical history

Jorge had apparently been struggling with a chronic illness for quite some time. He had received treatment at a hospital in Rosario, where he finally died at about 10 PM on August 7.

Jorge was no stranger to illness before, and he had undergone surgery in 2019 for a back problem. The illness that eventually claimed his life was different and had nothing to do with previous illnesses.

It seems like Jorge Messi's family is not going to reveal details regarding the illness he had been struggling with. "The peace of mind of a sick person and those close to him should not be the subject of speculation," they say.

Newell's Old Boys, where Messi started his career, said that Jorge had died but would not reveal the cause of death.