India, Aug. 8 -- Jorge Messi, the father and long-time representative of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68.

Messi's father passed away on Friday evening (local time) at a medical facility in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, following a struggle with chronic disease.

However, the exact cause of Jorge's death has not been officially verified by the Messi family.

Jorge played a crucial role in shaping Lionel Messi's life and career, guiding his son from his formative years in Rosario to his rise as an international soccer icon.

The health concerns began in June when the Messi family released a statement indicating that Jorge was experiencing a health issue and was receiving medical attention. At that time...