Lionel Messi bids farewell to father Jorge at a private funeral in Argentina

Lionel Messi attended a private funeral in Argentina on Sunday to mourn the passing of his father, Jorge, who died at age 68 following a battle with cancer. The ceremony, attended by select teammates from the Argentine national squad, took place at a cemetery in the town of Perez, near Rosario. Messi arrived in the country via a private flight from Miami to attend the service.

Jorge Messi served as a central figure in his son's professional life, acting as both his long-term agent and an emotional anchor throughout his career. His death marks the loss of the primary influence behind the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's rise to global football stardom.