Jorge Messi
Lionel Messi's father, who handled his off-field business affairs
- Entries
- 8
- On the record
- 3
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- Aug 12, 2026
The record
Jorge Messi was Lionel Messi's father and agent. ESPN's obituary says he worked as a chemical technician and steelworker in Argentina, traveled with his son to Barcelona in the early 2000s for the trial that led to the club's academy, and went on to negotiate Lionel's contracts with Barcelona and his later moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. He also managed his son's image rights and the family's investments in real estate, hotels and restaurants. He died in Rosario in August 2026, aged 68.
Spanish prosecutors first filed tax fraud charges against him and his son on June 12, 2013, over income from Lionel's image rights that was routed through companies in low-tax jurisdictions. On July 6, 2016, a Barcelona court convicted both men on three counts covering 2007 to 2009, finding they had evaded more than €4 million, and gave each a suspended 21-month sentence. Jorge Messi was fined €1.3 million. Sports Illustrated reported that Lionel Messi was appealing to Spain's Supreme Court.
Leaked Mossack Fonseca documents reported in April 2016 showed that father and son also owned Mega Star Enterprises, a Panama company first linked to them in the files on June 23, 2013, less than two weeks after the charges were filed. Jorge Messi took sole ownership in December 2015. The company was not named in Spain's 2014 and 2015 indictments, and through his father, Lionel Messi declined to comment for that report.
Roles and honours on the record
- until 2026 Agent to Lionel Messi; negotiated his Barcelona contracts and his transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, and managed his image rights source
- 2015 Sole owner of Mega Star Enterprises, a company registered in Panama source
- 2016 Defendant convicted with Lionel Messi on three counts of tax fraud, Barcelona source
Every entry, newest first
- Ruled
Barcelona court gave a 21-month suspended sentence and a €1.3M fine on three tax fraud counts, per Sports Illustrated. Lionel Messi convicted of tax fraud: 21 months, €1.7M fine
- Reported
Told the Barcelona court he did not think it necessary to inform his son of everything, per ESPN FC. Lionel Messi convicted of tax fraud: 21 months, €1.7M fine
Stories in this file
The record, entry by entry
- 2013-06-12 Filed Spanish prosecutors first filed tax fraud charges against Lionel Messi and his father, alleging they used offshore companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid taxes, the Irish Times reported. Irish Times report, Panama Papers investigation
- 2013-06-23 Reported The first reference in Mossack Fonseca's files to the Messis owning Mega Star Enterprises, a Panama company, dates from this day, the Irish Times reported from the leaked documents. Irish Times report, Panama Papers investigation
- 2015-12 Reported Jorge Messi took over sole ownership of Mega Star Enterprises, which was not mentioned in Spain's 2014 and 2015 indictments and remained active in Panama's company register in 2016, the Irish Times reported. Through his father, Lionel Messi declined to comment. Irish Times report, Panama Papers investigation
- 2016-07-06 Ruled A Barcelona court found Jorge and Lionel Messi guilty of three counts of tax fraud over more than €4 million in taxes on image-rights income from 2007 to 2009, gave each a suspended 21-month sentence and fined Jorge €1.3 million. FC Barcelona issued a statement backing both. Sports Illustrated report
- 2026-08 Reported He died at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, aged 68, survived by his wife Celia Cuccittini and four children, ESPN reported. ESPN obituary
- 2026-08-12 Reported Lionel Messi paid tribute to him on Instagram as "my dad, my friend and my agent," ESPN reported. ESPN report