Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi's father, passed away. He silently supported his son's career for decades, staying out of the spotlight and shouldering burdens alone.
Late on the night of August 8, the streetlights at Rosario Airport cast long shadows. There was
no swarm of reporters, no jostling crowd of photographers—only a few old neighbors who had been waiting at the cemetery gate for half the night. Upon seeing him arrive, they silently handed him a warm towel.
Messi sat on the steps of El Prado Cemetery, clutching a portrait of his father, Jorge. The night lights stayed on all night, and he did not cry out loud.
Late at night
three days ago, Messi, who was in the United States, received a call from Rosario. As he booked a private flight, his hands were shaking so much he couldn’t press the buttons correctly, while his wife and children stood by in silence, afraid to make a sound.Three years ago, Jorge was diagnosed with colon cancer. Throughout the entire six-year course of his illness, everyone tacitly kept it a secret, fearing it might interfere with Messi’s World Cup campaign.
In the farewell hall on August 9, there were only a few dozen close relatives and old friends. The wreath sent by the Argentine national team sat quietly in a corner, and outside the railing, fans had piled up notes half a person’s height. No one shouted or made a commotion; even their footsteps were very light.
Just three hours after the
news broke, the Argentine Football Association ordered flags to be flown at half-mast and announced a week of silence at all soccer matches nationwide. Official social media accounts for clubs across the five major European leagues all switched to black-and-white profile pictures, and UNICEF’s official Weibo account also posted a special message of gratitude.
Thirty years ago, young Messi—who hadn’t yet reached the average height for his age—was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.and the cost of treatment at the time would have bankrupted his already struggling family. Jorge, then 68 years old, gathered his meager savings and took his son all the way to Spain; after facing numerous setbacks, he finally managed to secure a trial with Barcelona.
Messi later became a world-renowned soccer superstar. Whether at award ceremonies or in public photos, Jorge always stood at the very edge of the frame; he was rarely seen facing the camera head-on and never stepped into the spotlight by riding on his son’s fame. During his years of illness, he also did his best to keep his condition private, for fear of disrupting his son’s match schedule.
Now, voices across the internet are in unison, calling for people to leave this family alone and let them quietly see the old man through his final moments.
So-called great fathers never need to stand in the spotlight; most of them shoulder the family’s burdens behind the scenes, guiding their children toward the light while standing in the shadows themselves—even when they pass away, they don’t want to cause others the slightest bit of trouble.If
reading this reminds you of your own father—who never once spoke softly in his entire life—why not pause for a moment? When you have a chance, give your elderly parent a call and ask if their meal is still warm today.
