According to Argentine media reports, Messi was accompanied by his mother Celia, brothers Matías and Rodrigo, and sister María Sol, as well as his wife Antonela Roccuzzo. After noon, they left the scene, and it remains unclear when Messi will return to Miami.

Rosario is shrouded in sadness. Messi said goodbye to his father here on Sunday at a private funeral ceremony attended only by close relatives and friends. Jorge passed away at age 68 after battling an illness for several months. He was crucial to Messi's life and career. It was his father's encouragement that allowed Messi to develop his talent, initially honed on the dirt fields of Abanderado Grandoli Club. Since then, goals, championships, Ballon d'Or awards, and lasting reverence have followed.

That is why people here shed tears for him at every corner. In the early morning, the chill was strong, and only later did the sun slightly disperse the cold. Several supporters of the Argentine national team captain came near the main entrance of El Prado Cemetery to offer their support during his most difficult time. The night before, Jacqueline and her two children, Giovanni and Milagros, had already left a note reading "Go, Messi family. The whole world is with you." Another note taped to the cemetery fence read "Go, Leo. We love you." Wreaths from the Mar del Plata hockey club Idra FC could also be seen on the fence. Most striking was a solemn teenager on his bike, carrying a note for his idol. Traffic police escorted him to the fence, as the area around the cemetery entrance had already been cordoned off and journalists were kept out. "My name is Lucas, I'm 15, from Pérez. My home is six blocks from here. I brought a sign that says 'Go, Messi,' made in a bit of a hurry. Yesterday I came here with my family, but there were too few people and it was dark, so I couldn't put it up. Today I came alone and finally left the sign," the teenager told a Clarín correspondent. He spoke words not common for a child his age: "I came here because someone like Messi has brought so much joy to this country, and we should support him during his most difficult time, comfort him, so he doesn't feel so sad and doesn't give up. He is an idol, one of the greatest idols from whom I can draw strength. He never gave up; he kept going even at his lowest, and in the end, he won everything. So he is a very important role model for many people, including me." Lucas was one of many fans who came to pay their quiet respects before departing.

Messi entered the cemetery through a side gate, avoiding the media and fans waiting outside. People were still hoping to continue expressing their love and support. Just seeing him for that moment was enough to understand his pain: he walked alone, his gaze always on the ground, his hands in his pockets, along the cemetery path. Shortly after noon, he and his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, left in a black pickup truck through the same route. At that time, Antonela was also seen leaving, comforted by relatives and friends. Messi's brother Matías also left through another exit, with federal police providing security. Jorge's eldest son Rodrigo, along with his mother Celia Cuccittini, left through the main entrance of the cemetery, located about 10 kilometers from downtown Rosario. Paredes, one of Messi's closest teammates on the Argentine national team, said after Boca drew with Vélez that he and several other members of the Qatar World Cup-winning squad would accompany their captain. However, they did not appear on television or in front of photographers.

What could be seen were wreaths sent by the Argentine Football Association, the coaching staff led by Scaloni, and Newell's Old Boys, the club Jorge deeply loved. Meanwhile, a private jet parked at Rosario International Airport "Malvinas Argentinas" was the same one that had previously brought Messi, Antonela, and their three children from Miami to Rosario. According to flight tracking apps, the plane took off around 11:30 AM with an unknown destination. It remains uncertain what Messi will do next. Inter Miami is scheduled to continue playing next week. The team lost to Monterrey last Saturday without him. This Wednesday, they will conclude their Leagues Cup group stage and must defeat León, also from the Mexican league. Will the Argentine star stay a few more days in his hometown to spend these initial, most difficult moments with his family? Or will he quickly return to the pitch—the greatest love he shared with his father for decades, the place that connected them until the last day of his life?

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