Messi Takes Indefinite Break from Football

Kathmandu: Argentine football star Lionel Messi has taken an indefinite break from football activities following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, according to international media reports.

Citing the French sports website Foot Mercato, various Argentine media outlets reported that the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner decided to step away from professional football for a while to spend time with his family and stand alongside his close relatives during this time of grief.

According to reports, 68-year-old Jorge Messi passed away while undergoing treatment at a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, due to long-standing health issues. Jorge's death is considered a massive personal loss for Messi, as he played a vital role in shaping his son's football career.

Messi, who currently plays for the American club Inter Miami, has not announced a return date to the club, signaling that his full focus remains on his family and personal circumstances.

Jorge Messi was not only Lionel Messi’s father but was also well-known as his agent and strategic advisor. Having worked as a supervisor in a steel factory, he later took on the responsibility of managing his son's football career. Jorge was actively involved when Messi’s early football journey developed at Newell's Old Boys, and he played a pivotal role in enrolling Messi into Barcelona's youth academy in Spain when the star was 13 years old.

At that time, Messi suffered from growth hormone deficiency, and Barcelona covered his medical expenses—a move credited with giving his sports career a new trajectory. Jorge Messi's family includes his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and children Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias, and Maria Sol. — ANI