According to Argentina’s La Nación, at around 20:30 local time on Saturday, Argentine football star Lionel Messi arrived in his hometown of Rosario on a private flight. Accompanied by heavy security, the Argentina captain appeared solemn and emotional. His overnight return was solely to say farewell to one of the most important people in his life — his father, Jorge Messi.

Reports indicate that Messi departed from Fort Lauderdale earlier that morning and flew back to Argentina on a journey lasting nearly ten hours. To protect Messi and his family’s privacy and safety, Rosario Airport and the roads leading to the cemetery were heavily secured with a large police presence.

The farewell ceremony for Jorge Messi is scheduled to take place on Sunday morning at Prado Cemetery, located near National Route 33. The ceremony will be attended only by close family members and friends, as Messi wishes to accompany his father on his final journey in the most private way possible. Just ten days earlier, Messi had returned to Inter Miami after completing his preparations for the 2026 World Cup campaign. He never expected that this trip back home would become his final goodbye to his father.

Jorge Messi’s passing deeply affected the entire Argentina national team. Messi’s teammates have shown their support for their captain in different ways. Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes confirmed that he would travel to Rosario together with several national team teammates to personally stand by Messi during this difficult time.

During an Inter Miami match, Rodrigo De Paul scored a long-range goal but chose not to celebrate wildly. Instead, he dedicated the goal to Messi and his family as a tribute to his close friend’s father.

Veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi, after representing River Plate in a league match, also expressed his condolences in a sideline interview, saying: “I have already expressed my condolences to Messi. This is an extremely difficult moment. I hope he can find the strength to overcome this difficult period.”