Lionel Messi is mourning the death of his father, Jorge Messi, alongside a close family that has quietly remained behind the Argentine superstar throughout his career.
Jorge Messi died in Rosario at the age of 68 after receiving treatment for an illness.
His death has brought fresh attention not only to Lionel’s parents but also to the other members of the Messi family.
Lionel Messi has three siblings: two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías Messi, and one younger sister, María Sol Messi.
And unlike many celebrity siblings, all three have maintained links to the business, charitable or professional network surrounding Lionel.
How many siblings does Lionel Messi have?
Lionel Messi has three siblings.
They are:
- Rodrigo Messi — older brother
- Matías Messi — older brother
- María Sol Messi — younger sister
Lionel is the third of the four children born to Jorge Horacio Messi and Celia María Cuccittini.
The siblings grew up together in Rosario, Argentina.
The family dynamic changed dramatically when Lionel moved to Spain as a teenager after FC Barcelona offered him the chance to join its youth system.
Jorge ultimately remained particularly involved in Lionel’s career and became his longtime agent.
But Lionel’s brothers and sister would also become part of the trusted family circle surrounding him.
Who is Lionel Messi’s brother Rodrigo Messi?
Rodrigo Messi is Lionel Messi’s oldest brother and one of the family members most directly involved in his professional affairs.
Rodrigo has generally avoided becoming a public celebrity himself despite being closely associated with one of the world’s most recognizable athletes.
Instead, his work has largely occurred behind the scenes.
Recent profiles of the family describe Rodrigo as being involved with Leo Messi Management, including responsibilities connected with Lionel’s schedule, publicity and professional activities.
That makes Rodrigo an important member of the infrastructure surrounding Messi’s career.
The arrangement is consistent with how the Messi family has historically operated.
Rather than turning every aspect of Lionel’s career over to outsiders, important responsibilities have often remained with relatives and long-term trusted associates.
Is Rodrigo Messi married and does he have children?
Rodrigo is also a father.
However, compared with Lionel, relatively little attention is given to Rodrigo’s private family life.
That privacy is common among the Messi siblings.
Although their connection to Lionel inevitably creates public interest, they have generally not pursued the level of exposure associated with celebrity families or reality television personalities.
Who is Matías Messi?
Matías Messi is Lionel Messi’s second older brother.
Like Rodrigo, Matías grew up alongside Lionel in Rosario before his younger brother’s football ability transformed the family’s circumstances.
Matías has been associated with the Leo Messi Foundation, the charitable organization created around Lionel’s philanthropic work.
The foundation has supported projects involving children, healthcare, education and sport.
Matías has generally remained based closer to the family’s Argentine roots rather than following the same international public lifestyle as Lionel.
He has occasionally generated media attention in Argentina over the years, but professionally his best-known connection remains his involvement with family and charitable activities surrounding his brother.
Are Rodrigo and Matías Messi twins?
No.
Rodrigo and Matías Messi are both Lionel’s older brothers, but they are not twins.
Rodrigo is the eldest of the Messi siblings, followed by Matías.
Lionel came next, while María Sol is the youngest child in the family.
Who is Lionel Messi’s sister María Sol Messi?
María Sol Messi is Lionel Messi’s only sister and the youngest of the four Messi children.
While her brothers have been involved primarily in management and charitable activities, María Sol developed a career connected with fashion, branding and the Messi business ecosystem.
She has worked with The Messi Store, the clothing and lifestyle brand associated with Lionel Messi.
More recently, she has also been linked to brand strategy at 525 Rosario, Messi’s entertainment and production venture.
Her professional path therefore gives her a different role within the family business compared with Rodrigo and Matías.
Is María Sol Messi married?
María Sol has been in a relationship with Julián “Tuli” Arellano, who has worked within Inter Miami’s youth football system.
The couple had planned to marry, although reporting in 2026 said their wedding plans were affected after María Sol was involved in a car accident in late 2025.
She recovered after the accident.
As with the other Messi siblings, María Sol has a considerably smaller public profile than Lionel.
What do Lionel Messi’s siblings do?
Although Lionel is the football superstar of the family, his siblings have not been entirely removed from his career.
Their roles can broadly be understood as:
Rodrigo Messi: Management, scheduling, publicity and professional affairs.
Matías Messi: Family affairs and involvement with the Leo Messi Foundation.
María Sol Messi: Fashion, branding and business projects associated with Messi’s commercial ventures.
Their involvement demonstrates how much of Lionel Messi’s enormous career has historically been managed through a family structure.
Jorge Messi stood at the center of that structure for decades as Lionel’s father and agent.
His death in August 2026 therefore represents not only a personal loss for the family but also the loss of the man who helped build the system surrounding Lionel’s career from its earliest days.
Did Lionel Messi’s siblings move to Barcelona with him?
The Messi family initially attempted to relocate together when Lionel was given the opportunity to join Barcelona.
The move was difficult, however, and much of the family eventually returned to Argentina.
Jorge remained particularly involved with Lionel as his football development progressed in Spain.
Lionel was only 13 when he made the enormous transition from Rosario to Barcelona.
The separation meant his relationship with his hometown and family remained particularly important throughout his career.
Even after becoming a global superstar, Messi has continued to maintain strong links to Rosario.
Who are Lionel Messi’s parents?
Lionel Messi was born to Jorge Horacio Messi and Celia María Cuccittini.
Jorge worked in the industrial sector before becoming Lionel’s agent.
Celia reportedly worked part-time as a cleaner while raising the family.
Neither parent came from the kind of enormous wealth later associated with their son’s football career.
Jorge’s willingness to pursue opportunities for Lionel ultimately became pivotal.
He accompanied his young son to Barcelona and went on to negotiate and manage many aspects of Lionel’s career for decades.
Jorge died in Rosario in August 2026 at the age of 68.
Lionel Messi’s family after Jorge Messi’s death
Jorge’s death leaves Celia and the couple’s four children mourning the patriarch of a remarkably close football family.
For Lionel, the relationship was particularly unusual because Jorge was simultaneously his father, adviser and professional representative.
But Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol were also part of the same family structure.
Long before there was a Messi global brand, multimillion-dollar sponsorships or World Cup glory, there was simply a family raising four children in Rosario.
That may help explain why Lionel continued relying heavily on his parents and siblings even after becoming one of the wealthiest and most famous athletes in the world.
Lionel Messi siblings FAQ
Does Lionel Messi have a brother?
Yes. Lionel Messi has two brothers, Rodrigo Messi and Matías Messi.
Does Lionel Messi have a sister?
Yes. Lionel Messi has one younger sister named María Sol Messi.
How many siblings does Messi have?
Lionel Messi has three siblings in total: two brothers and one sister.
Who is Lionel Messi’s oldest brother?
Rodrigo Messi is the oldest of the Messi siblings.
What does Rodrigo Messi do?
Rodrigo has been involved in Lionel Messi’s management and professional affairs, including scheduling and publicity.
What does Matías Messi do?
Matías has been associated with the Leo Messi Foundation and other family affairs.
What does María Sol Messi do?
María Sol has worked in fashion and branding, including roles connected with The Messi Store and Messi-related business ventures.
Who are Lionel Messi’s parents?
His parents are Jorge Horacio Messi and Celia María Cuccittini. Jorge, Lionel’s longtime agent, died at age 68 in August 2026.
