Lionel Messi says goodbye to father Jorge at private Rosario funeral

Lionel Messi and his family have held a private funeral for his father, Jorge Messi, in Rosario following his death at the age of 68.

The ceremony took place at El Prado cemetery on the outskirts of Rosario, in Argentina’s Santa Fe province, amid heightened security and with only close family members present. The arrangements were made to give the family complete privacy during the difficult farewell.

Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, travelled from the United States with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children on a private jet on Saturday night. They joined his mother, Celia Cuccittini, and his siblings Matias Messi, Rodrigo Messi and Maria Sol Messi for the funeral.

El Prado park was closed to visitors from Sunday afternoon as part of the measures put in place to protect the family’s privacy.

Fans gathered at Rosario airport and outside the cemetery to leave messages of sympathy and support for the Argentina captain. One supporter attached a banner to the cemetery fence reading: “Stay strong Leo, we love you.”

The public tributes reflected the widespread affection for Messi in the city where he began his football career. Rosario mayor Pablo Javkin also offered his condolences to the Messi family and said the local government had made itself available to help protect the funeral and safeguard the family during the period of mourning.

Argentina’s professional and youth matches across all divisions began with a minute’s silence in Jorge Messi’s memory at the weekend, following instructions from the Argentine Football Association. Players, coaching staff and match officials also wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

Club Social y Deportivo Abanderado Grandoli, the Rosario side where Messi started playing football, shared an old photograph of the player and his father alongside other children in a team line-up. The club posted the image on social media on Saturday with an emotional message.

Jorge Messi died in the early hours of Saturday after being admitted to Sanatorio Centro in Rosario because of complications linked to a long-term illness.

He played a major role in supporting his son from the earliest stages of his football journey in Rosario through to Messi’s World Cup triumph with Argentina and his success as one of the most decorated players in the history of the game.

The private ceremony allowed Messi, his immediate family and close relatives to mourn away from public attention, while tributes from supporters, clubs and football authorities continued across Rosario and Argentina.