Yesterday, for several hours, thousands of people in Argentina followed with concern a news that claimed that Jorge Messi, father of Lionel Messi, had died. The information began to circulate on social networks and WhatsApp groups, until one of the most popular actresses in the country, Florencia Peña, directly counted it as a “scoop” on the Luzu streaming channel.

However, the news was false. It wasn't checked, it wasn't verified, and it wasn't even communicated with tact, care, or empathy. In the middle of the World Cup and hours after the Argentine captain's hat trick, Florencia Peña blurted out: "I have to tell you that Messi's father died. He has to come back from the World Cup, right?"

Within a couple of minutes, he backed away. It was a lie. “Fake news,” he said, and the laughter continued, as if it were a prank. But the issue escalated, the actress later apologized and the channel fired the production.

Given the impact that the rumor had, the Messi family decided to issue a statement to clarify the situation and put an end to the speculation, emphasizing the discomfort that the situation added at a delicate moment.

The statement confirmed that Jorge Messi is going through a health problem that is being followed by medical professionals, but denied the versions that spoke of a death.

The family also explained that “his evolution is favorable within the picture” and asked for respect against the dissemination of unverified information.

Meanwhile, in Argentina, there was no other topic all day. Criticisms regarding the production and dissemination processes of information on streaming channels dominated all the programs.

Why did the rumor have such an impact?

The news found a particular context. Since the beginning of the year, versions had emerged about medical consultations made by Jorge Messi both in the United States and in Argentina.

Although an official diagnosis was never released, different media had reported on studies and medical consultations. This previous situation made many people consider the information that began to circulate in the last few hours to be credible.

The situation also coincided with an emotional moment that had caught the attention of fans. After Argentina's debut in the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi was visibly moved and acknowledged that he was going through “difficult days.”

The Argentine captain did not publicly explain what he was referring to nor did he link those words to his father's health. However, many users on social networks related both events when the false news appeared.

A story that moved millions

Few families attract as much public attention as that of Lionel Messi. For this reason, any information related to your immediate environment tends to multiply quickly and generate an enormous impact. In this case, the official clarification came to bring peace of mind and confirm that Jorge Messi continues under medical monitoring.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi remains focused on the 2026 World Cup with the Argentine National Team, while his family tries to go through the situation with the greatest possible reserve.