Pakistan, Aug. 10 -- Argentina football icon Lionel Messi bid farewell on Sunday to his father, the global star's emotional anchor and agent since childhood, who passed away following a battle with cancer aged 68.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner touched down on a private flight from Miami late on Saturday with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children and has remained surrounded by his close family since.

A private ceremony with a few teammates from the Argentine national squad is scheduled to take place at a cemetery in the town of Perez, adjacent to Rosario, later Sunday.

The gates of the town's El Prado cemetery displayed handwritten messages from fans - "Stay strong, Leo, we love you" and "Stay strong, Messi family" - alongsi...