Football star Lionel Messi said a final goodbye to his father and mentor, Jorge Messi, during a private family funeral on Sunday near his hometown of Rosario.
Jorge Messi died on Saturday at age 68. He provided emotional and football support to his son throughout his career and served as the global star's agent from his early playing years.
The 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d'Or winner arrived in Rosario on Saturday evening on a private jet from Miami, traveling with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children. The family immediately traveled to the nearby town of Perez for a private cemetery service where access was strictly restricted.
Private Ceremony in Perez
Agence France-Presse reported around noon on Sunday that several vehicles began leaving the cemetery, signalling the end of the ceremony. Private security guards who had been positioned at the site since the previous day also departed, and several Argentine media outlets confirmed the funeral had concluded.
From early morning, the fences of El Prado cemetery remained nearly deserted except for journalists and a few police officers. The perimeter was decorated with a No. 10 jersey, a flower wreath, and handwritten paper notes wishing courage to Messi and his family.
Among the few fans gathered outside was 15-year-old Lucas Blanco, from a Perez neighborhood, who prepared to hang his own written message expressing support for Messi.
Blanco said that Messi had given so much joy to Argentina, so it was now the fans' turn to return some of that joy and comfort him.
Support From Fans and Teammates
Other supporters also made long journeys to show solidarity. Carlos and Ana, a couple from Tres Arroyos, a town south of Buenos Aires, said they had traveled 700 kilometers to stand near Messi during this difficult time.
Teammates from the Argentina national team also expressed a desire starting Saturday to be beside their captain, though it was not clear whether they would attend the funeral or meet the family separately.
Boca Juniors midfielder and former Paris Saint-Germain player Leandro Paredes spoke after Boca's match against Velez on Saturday night. Paredes said it would do Messi good to have his teammates present and added that he needed to speak with teammates to decide whether to travel immediately or the next day.
