FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi’s father Jorge Messi has died at the age of 68 according to numerous outlets in Argentina and Spain, including Infobae and El Espanol.

The patriarch of the Messi family reportedly passed away in his hometown of Rosario in Argentina on Friday night, at around 22.00 local time.

At the time of publishing, however, the Messi family hadn’t released an official statement regarding their matter.

Jorge Messi’s long battle of illness was the subject of numerous reports during the World Cup where Argentina reached the final losing to Spain 1-0.

During the tournament, Messi was asked about his tearful displays of emotion by former Argentina teammate Juan Pablo Sorin, who is now a pundit in retirement.

"Tears for the family, for your family, and for this other family that is the National Team, right?" Sorin asked Messi.

"Yes, yes... The truth is that for the family more than anything. Because, well, it’s always there, it’s always there. Now we are in a difficult moment. So many things came together, but obviously also because of them - a spectacular group that supports me - it makes me happy," Messi answered.

Days after this exchange, the Messis released a statement and clarified that Jorge had been "under medical monitoring, recovering and evolving favorably within the condition he presents."

Ultimately, however, according to reports, Jorge has passed away leaving behind his wife Cecila, sons Lionel, Rodrigo, and Matias, daughter Maria Sol, and a number of grandchildren.

Jorge Messi is a key and eternal figure in FC Barcelona history

A pillar in his son’s rise to become arguably the greatest player of all time, Jorge Messi is arguably one of the most important figures in FC Barcelona history.

His son was already in the academy of Newell’s Old Boys at the turn of the century. Yet it was Jorge that took the brave step to Europe when neither that club nor River Plate wanted to pay for Lionel’s necessary growth treatment.

An agreement to sign for Barça was famously penned on a napkin with then sporting director Carles Rexach on December 14, 2000, at the Pompeia Tennis Club.

The rest is history. Lionel then joined La Masia, and progressed to become FC Barcelona’s greatest player of all time - if not that in the sport overall - with a record 672 goals in 778 appearances.