Jorge Messi died at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina, after an illness that the family kept private.
Lionel Messi bid him farewell with a heartfelt letter on Instagram, and there, among hundreds of messages of support, appeared one that no one expected to see: Cristiano Ronaldo’s. Without long speeches or exaggerated gestures, the Portuguese wrote just one sentence: “A huge hug for you and your loved ones during these difficult times, Leo”.
David Beckham, Ángel Di María and Giuliano Simeone also shared their affection, but Cristiano’s comment was the one most widely shared. Two decades of rivalry did not prevent a long-distance hug. Messi traveled to Rosario with Antonela Roccuzzo and their children to be with his family.