False report on the death of Jorge Messi causes controversy in Argentina

On June 18, 2026, Argentine presenter Florencia Peña incorrectly announced the death of Jorge Messi, the father of Lionel Messi, during the Luzu TV show 'El Show del Verano'. The Messi family subsequently issued an official statement via Fabrizio Romano clarifying that Jorge Messi is suffering from an undisclosed health issue but is under medical supervision and recovering favorably. The family emphasized that only information provided through official channels should be considered valid. Following the backlash, Peña apologized publicly on social media and announced her resignation from the program, stating she had received the false information from her production team. Earlier, during a match against Algeria at the World Cup, Lionel Messi had appeared emotional while scoring, later noting he had been going through difficult personal days. The incident highlights the consequences of verifying information before broadcast.