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Lionel Messi Bids Farewell to Father Jorge Messi in Rosario

6 sources across 6 countries

Who reported this

  • G1 Brazil · Centre-left · Grupo Globo (Marinho family)
  • La Tercera Chile · Centre-right · Copesa (Saieh family)
  • Dawn Pakistan · Centre-left · Pakistan Herald Publications (Haroon family)
  • The Korea Herald South Korea · Centre-right · Herald Corporation (Yeongpoong Group)
  • El Pais Spain · Centre-left · Grupo PRISA
  • Taipei Times Taiwan · Centre-left · Liberty Times Group

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.

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Jorge Messi, the father and longtime agent of football star Lionel Messi, has died in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68. Reports indicate he passed away following a battle with cancer. Lionel Messi traveled from Miami via private flight with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children to attend a private ceremony at the El Prado cemetery in the town of Perez, adjacent to Rosario. The event was characterized by a strict security operation that included the closure of public access and a ban on drones to maintain the intimacy of the service. Thousands of fans gathered in the surrounding areas to leave messages of support for the Messi family.

Jorge Messi was a former metalworker who served as his son's first coach and emotional anchor. He played a pivotal role in Lionel's early career, including negotiating the landmark agreement with FC Barcelona in December 2000. This agreement, famously signed on a napkin, ensured the club would cover the costs of Lionel's growth hormone deficiency treatment. Jorge later managed his son's contracts with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami.

Inter Miami and the Argentine Football Association expressed their condolences. During a Leagues Cup match against Monterrey, Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo de Paul paid tribute by revealing a Messi number 10 jersey after scoring a goal. The match was preceded by a minute of silence. Jorge's health had been a subject of public concern during the June World Cup, where Lionel Messi admitted to facing difficult personal situations outside of sports. Argentina was defeated 1 to 0 by Spain in the World Cup final on July 19.

How each side framed it

Centre-left
These outlets focused on the emotional narrative of Jorge's role as a guiding figure and the historical significance of the Barcelona napkin agreement.
Centre-right
These outlets emphasized the logistical details of the funeral, specifically the strict security measures and the reactions of fans on the ground.

Sources

100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.