Jorge Messi, father and former manager of Lionel Messi, dies in Rosario

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Jorge Messi, the father and longtime manager of Argentine football captain Lionel Messi, has died in a hospital in Rosario after a long illness, according to Turkish and Argentine media reports. Jorge Messi, a businessman, had managed his son's off-field affairs since the early stages of his career and was considered one of the most important supporters of his football career. The elder Messi was known for rarely speaking to the media and maintaining a private family life. He was described as a figure who quietly followed his son's achievements and celebrated them within the family circle. Lionel Messi, the Argentina national team captain, has not yet publicly commented on his father's death. No further details about the funeral arrangements were immediately available.