Lionel Messi and his family have said goodbye to his father, Jorge Messi, at a private funeral in Rosario, with heightened security surrounding the ceremony and only close relatives permitted to attend.
The service took place at El Prado cemetery on the outskirts of Rosario, in Santa Fe province. The arrangements were made to give the family complete privacy as they mourned Jorge Messi, who died aged 68.
The Inter Miami forward travelled from the United States on a private plane late on Saturday with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children. They joined Messi’s mother, Celia Cuccittini, and his siblings Matias, Rodrigo and Maria Sol for the funeral.
El Prado park was closed to visitors from midday on Sunday as security measures were put in place around the cemetery. The limited attendance and restrictions were intended to protect the family from public attention during the farewell.
Despite the private nature of the ceremony, supporters gathered at Rosario airport and outside the cemetery to show their sympathy. Fans left messages and banners for the Argentina captain, including one attached to the cemetery railings that read: “Stay strong, Leo, we love you.”
Rosario mayor Pablo Javkin also offered his condolences to the Messi family. He said the local government had made itself available to help protect the funeral arrangements and ensure the family’s privacy during a difficult period.
The Argentine Football Association paid tribute to Jorge Messi across the country’s professional and youth competitions. On its instructions, every weekend match in those divisions began with a minute’s silence in his memory.
Players, coaching staff and referees also wore black armbands as a mark of respect for the father of the Argentina captain.
Abanderado Grandoli, the Rosario club where Messi began his football journey, published an old photograph of the player and his father alongside other children in one of the team’s line-ups. The club accompanied the image with an emotional message on its social media accounts on Saturday.
Jorge Messi died in the early hours of Saturday after being admitted to Sanatorio Centro in Rosario with complications linked to a long-term illness.
He was a constant source of support for his son from Messi’s earliest days playing football in Rosario through to his World Cup triumph with Argentina. Jorge also witnessed his son’s rise to global prominence and the achievements that have led many to regard Lionel Messi as the greatest player in football history.
The funeral brought together Messi’s immediate family in the city where his football story began, while tributes from supporters, football clubs and officials reflected Jorge Messi’s importance in the career of one of the sport’s most celebrated figures.
