Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, was laid to rest on Sunday afternoon at El Prado Cemetery in Rosario. Despite the family’s efforts to keep the ceremony private, the funeral could not be kept completely out of public view.
Several television channels have reportedly been accused of flying drones over the cemetery to capture images of the grieving family. The incident has angered Messi’s lawyers, who are reportedly preparing to take legal action against the media outlets involved.
Jorge Messi died at the age of 68 at a hospital in Rosario. His family arranged a private funeral at El Prado, a cemetery located near Route 33 in the Pérez area. Messi traveled from the United States to Rosario on a private aircraft with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children to attend his father’s final farewell. His mother, Celia Cuccittini, as well as his siblings and other close family members, were also present.
Security around the cemetery was tight ahead of the funeral. Public access was restricted from Saturday afternoon, with only authorized vehicles allowed inside. Despite these measures, drones were reportedly seen flying over the cemetery. Several Buenos Aires-based television channels were accused of using the drones in an attempt to capture images of the grieving family.
Local Rosario outlet La Capital and several other Argentine media organizations also reported the incident. The episode sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many people arguing that attempting to film a family during such a private moment of grief violated basic journalistic ethics.
Authorities later took action. Santa Fe police urgently prohibited drone flights over the cemetery area, with the restriction remaining in place until the funeral concluded on Sunday.
Following the incident, Messi’s legal team reportedly became involved in the matter. According to reports from media outlets, preparations are underway for possible legal action against the organizations involved over alleged violations of the family’s privacy during a deeply personal moment of mourning.
Earlier, sources close to the Messi family had said there would be no public wake for Jorge Messi. The family wanted his final farewell to remain strictly private.
Outside the cemetery, however, fans turned out in large numbers to show their support for Messi. Among them was 15-year-old Lucas Blanco, who reportedly traveled nearly 700 kilometers to be there. Like many other supporters, he carried a message of solidarity: “Stay strong, Messi.”
The outpouring of support from fans reflected the affection and sympathy of Argentines for the Messi family during their difficult time.
