Argentinian football hero who played key role in Lionel Messi’s international career passes away aged 73

Former Argentinian FA manager Omar Souto has sadly passed away at the age of 73. 

Souto, who played a crucial part in convincing Lionel Messi to play for Argentina over Spain, died on Sunday.

He spent more than 30 years working for the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) and was given an emotional tribute only last month at an awards ceremony.  

The AFA announced his passing this morning with a touching statement reading: ‘With great sorrow and sadness, the Argentine Football Association announces the passing of Omar Souto, the historic Manager of Argentina’s National Teams. 

‘Simply thank you, Omar. Thank you for your solidarity, your unparalleled commitment to the Albiceleste and for being a true role model.’ 

Souto is thought to be the first person associated with the Argentinian national team to ever contact Messi, then just a teenager at Barcelona, about the prospect of representing the country of his birth. 

Former Argentinian FA manager Omar Souto has sadly passed away at the age of 73

Souto was one of the first representatives from the Argentinian FA to contact Messi about representing the country of his birth

At that time, Messi also had offers to represent Spain having moved to Catalonia from South America around the age of 13. 

Recalling the moment he first reached out to the Inter Miami star, Souto explained in a 2021 interview with TyC Sports: ‘At the U-20 World Cup in Nigeria, we were always with Spain at the hotels, and someone from their coaching staff grabbed us and said, “How come you didn’t bring the kid from Barcelona? He’s better than all the ones here.”

‘On that team (the U-20s) we had (Fernando) Cavenaghi, (Javier) Mascherano, Maxi Lopez, and one day when we got back to Buenos Aires, (Hugo) Tocalli told me we had to get that player. 

‘I thought his name was Leonardo because everyone called him Leo. I went to a phone booth in Monte Grande and asked for a directory of the city of Rosario where all the Messis were.

‘I called the grandmother, who gave me the uncle’s number, and when I called him, he gave me the father’s number, and when I called him, he said, “Finally, you’re going to call him up. My son wants to play for the Argentine National Team.”‘

Messi, now 38, has gone on to make 196 appearances for Argentina, scoring 116 goals and winning both the FIFA World Cup and Copa America. 

The former Barcelona and PSG forward paid tribute to Souto following news of his passing today.

Sharing a photo of the pair together with the trophy from the Qatari World Cup of 2022, Messi wrote: ‘You were always there and were the person who paved the way for the AFA to take notice of me. 

‘An incredible human being, impossible to forget for all of us who had the privilege of being with the national team. 

‘We will never forget you, Omar. Rest in peace.’