Messi quietly bowed his head as he laid his father to rest.
Superstar Lionel Messi walked with his head bowed and a sorrowful expression throughout the funeral of his father, Jorge Messi.
Yesterday (August 9), Messi and his family laid Jorge Messi to rest at El Prado Cemetery on the outskirts of Rosario, Argentina. The family held a private service attended only by close relatives, employing strict security measures to ensure privacy.
Messi spent these final moments with his father in deep grief. Dressed in dark clothing, the Argentine superstar barely spoke during the ceremony, walking silently through the cemetery with his head lowered.
A large crowd of fans gathered outside the cemetery to offer their support to Messi. They placed signs on the fence conveying their condolences to “El Pulga,” with messages such as: “Stay strong, Leo; we love you.”
Rosario Mayor Pablo Javkin extended his condolences to the Messi family and confirmed that local authorities were ready to assist with security for Jorge’s funeral.
Newell’s Old Boys, the club where Messi played during his childhood, flew their flags at half-mast to honor Jorge. Meanwhile, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced that a minute of silence would be observed at all matches in Argentina this weekend in tribute to Jorge Messi. FC Barcelona also sent their condolences to El Pulga; the Catalan club will observe a minute of silence for Messi’s father at upcoming matches, and the team will wear black armbands.
It is worth recalling that during the 2026 World Cup, Messi was moved to tears after the match against Algeria. Explaining his emotion, El Pulga confided: “To be honest, this had nothing to do with sports. The past few days have been very difficult and complicated.” It is believed that Jorge’s health had already been in a serious state for some time. Immediately after the World Cup, “El Pulga” chose to return straight to Rosario rather than travel with his teammates. This decision had displeased some fans, but at the time, Messi simply wanted to be by his father’s side.
