Jorge Messi, father and longtime agent of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68.

Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s childhood club, confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday, with Argentine media reporting that he died on Friday at a hospital in Rosario.

“His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel,” the club said in a social media tribute.

Jorge played a significant role in his son’s development, serving as Lionel’s first coach in Argentina and accompanying him when he moved to Barcelona as a child. He later became Messi’s agent and remained a key figure in his professional career.

Reflecting on his father’s influence in a 2022 interview with DirecTV Sports, Messi said Jorge had played a major role in his success.

“My father helped me enormously. He is very critical of me. That made me always want to push myself further,” Messi said.

Jorge’s health had previously been the subject of speculation, prompting the Messi family to appeal to the media for privacy and “humanity” during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Jorge Messi’s death marks a major personal loss for the football icon, whose remarkable career has been closely supported by his father from his earliest days in the sport.