Jorge Messi, the father and longtime agent of football star Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness.

Jorge died on Friday night at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, where he had been receiving treatment. He was a key figure in his son’s football career, serving as Lionel’s agent and helping manage his professional affairs from his teenage years.

He accompanied Lionel to Spain in 2000 when the then-13-year-old travelled to Barcelona for a trial with the club. Lionel subsequently joined Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, where he began the journey that would establish him as one of football’s legends.

As Lionel’s representative, Jorge was involved in the negotiation of his son’s contracts and remained a central figure in the business side of his career as he progressed from Barcelona’s youth ranks to the first team and eventually became a global football star.

The Messi family had kept details of Jorge’s health private. He had been undergoing treatment in Rosario before his death following what reports described as a long illness.

He is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and their children Rodrigo, Matías, Lionel and María Sol.