Lionel Messi bids farewell to his father in Rosario

Soccer player Lionel Messi was seen on Sunday at El Prado cemetery during the funeral of his father in the central Argentine city of Rosario.

Messi and his family had traveled from Miami on a private plane and were escorted by a police motorcade to a Rosario cemetery, where a private family wake was held before the burial early on Sunday.

Messi’s father Jorge Messi died Saturday at a hospital in Rosario at age 68. He had undergone treatment in recent months for an unspecified illness.

Jorge Messi played a key role in his son’s career, accompanying the young Lionel to Barcelona for his trial at La Masia and later managing his contracts, business affairs and image rights.