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Argentine TV Presenter Resigns After Falsely Reporting Death of Lionel Messi’s Father

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Argentine TV Presenter Resigns After Falsely Reporting Death of Lionel Messi’s Father

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – A major media controversy has erupted in Argentina after television presenter and actress Florencia Peña resigned from streaming platform Luzu TV for falsely announcing the death of Jorge Messi, father of football superstar Lionel Messi, during a live broadcast.

The incident occurred shortly after Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Messi delivered a stunning hat-trick performance.

During a live episode of El Show del Verano, Peña shocked viewers by claiming that Jorge Messi had suddenly died.

“I don’t want to bring bad news, but Messi’s father has just passed away. It was sudden. In the middle of the World Cup,” she said on air.

The statement immediately sparked confusion and concern among football fans worldwide, with the unverified report spreading rapidly across social media platforms and news forums. However, the claim was soon debunked.

In response to the growing speculation, the Messi family issued an official statement confirming that Jorge Messi is alive and currently receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition. According to the family, the 68-year-old remains under medical supervision and is recovering steadily. The statement criticized the circulation of false information and urged the media and public to respect the family’s privacy during a sensitive period. The clarification brought relief to millions of supporters of Lionel Messi, who had been alarmed by the reports circulating online.

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Following widespread backlash, Peña publicly accepted responsibility for the error and announced her resignation from Luzu TV. In a statement shared on social media, the veteran television personality explained that the information had been relayed to her during the live broadcast as verified news by members of the production team.

“I have to clarify that this false information was given to me live on air as if it had been checked by the show’s production team, and I trusted it,” Peña said.

Despite insisting that she acted in good faith, she acknowledged her role in spreading the misinformation.

“I apologize to the Messi family. I am deeply ashamed to have been involved in this mistake. Even so, I take responsibility for being part of it, and that is why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu.”

Her resignation came less than 24 hours after the controversy erupted.

Luzu TV also issued a formal apology and announced disciplinary measures against those responsible for allowing the false report to be broadcast. The platform’s founder and producer, Nicolás Occhiato, described the incident as unacceptable and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to professional journalism.

“For our channel, the broadcast of sensitive information without proper prior verification is unacceptable,” Occhiato said.

The company confirmed that employees directly involved in the editorial failure had been dismissed, while emphasizing the importance of responsible reporting, especially when dealing with personal and health-related matters.

The controversy drew reactions from across Argentina, including from President Javier Milei, who strongly condemned the false report. Writing on social media platform X, Milei described the comments as “outrageous” and “unscrupulous,” arguing that public figures and media personalities have a responsibility to verify information before presenting it as fact. He also criticized what he described as a culture of impunity in parts of the media, where unverified reports can quickly gain traction simply because they are delivered through influential platforms.

The false report gained additional momentum because Lionel Messi appeared visibly emotional during Argentina’s opening World Cup match against Algeria. After the game, the Argentine captain admitted he had experienced “difficult days” personally but declined to provide further details. Those comments fueled online speculation regarding his family circumstances, although neither Messi nor his representatives disclosed any specific information at the time. Subsequent reports confirmed that concerns about Jorge Messi’s health had contributed to the public curiosity, but there was never any indication that his condition was life-threatening.

The incident has reignited debate in Argentina about journalistic standards in the digital age, where unverified information can spread globally within minutes. Media analysts say the controversy serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of broadcasting sensitive information without adequate fact-checking, particularly when it involves the health or personal lives of public figures.

As the fallout continues, attention is expected to shift back to the football pitch, where Argentina will face Austria in their next 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage match, with supporters hoping the focus returns to football rather than off-field controversies.

Argentine TV Presenter Resigns After Falsely Reporting Death of Lionel Messi’s Father

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Nigeria Flamingos Make History, Stun Brazil 3-1 to Reach U-17 Women’s World Cup Final

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Nigeria Flamingos Make History, Stun Brazil 3-1 to Reach U-17 Women’s World Cup Final

 

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have made history by becoming the first African country to reach the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Brazil 3-1 in a thrilling semi-final encounter on Wednesday night.

Inspired by a brilliant brace from Awawu Bashiru and an early strike from Queen Joseph, the Nigerian girls produced an impressive performance to overcome their South American opponents and book a historic place in Saturday’s final in Morocco.

Joseph opened the scoring with a close-range finish from four yards to give Akeem Busari’s side an early advantage.

Bashiru then doubled Nigeria’s lead with a moment of brilliance, sending a lofted cross over the Brazilian goalkeeper and into the net in the 71st minute.

The forward completed her brace 10 minutes later, calmly firing home a well-placed effort at the near post to extend Nigeria’s advantage and send the Nigerian bench, supporters and officials into wild celebrations.

 

Brazil managed to pull one back through Greise Kelly in the 89th minute, but it was too little, too late as the Flamingos held on for a memorable victory.

 

The triumph represents Nigeria’s first-ever victory over Brazil at this level and marks a significant milestone for African women’s football, with the Flamingos becoming the first team from the continent to qualify for the tournament’s final.

 

Nigeria will now have the opportunity to surpass their previous best achievement of winning the bronze medal in 2022 as they prepare for a showdown with Japan, who defeated tournament favourites Korea DPR in the other semi-final.

 

The eagerly anticipated final is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, in Morocco, with the Flamingos aiming to crown their historic campaign with Nigeria’s first-ever U-17 Women’s World Cup title.

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Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision

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Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision
Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision

Spanish footballer Jesús de Miguel has died at the age of 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a league match involving his club, CD Tenerife.

The striker died on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at a hospital in Tenerife, Spain, a day after he collapsed during his team’s encounter against FC Andorra in the Spanish second division.

The incident occurred in the closing stages of Monday’s match at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, with both teams level at 2-2.

De Miguel was chasing a long ball towards the middle of the pitch when FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed out of his penalty area to intercept it. The goalkeeper collided with the forward, striking him in the chest with his knee.

De Miguel immediately fell to the ground, prompting players from both teams to call for urgent medical assistance. Owono was shown a straight red card following the collision.

Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch and administered emergency treatment to the injured footballer before he was transported to hospital by ambulance.

During the journey, De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest, but medical personnel reportedly managed to restore his pulse through emergency resuscitation.

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He was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

CD Tenerife initially described his condition as stable despite the seriousness of his injuries. However, a subsequent medical update indicated that his neurological condition had deteriorated.

He died at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

Announcing his death, CD Tenerife expressed profound sorrow over the loss of the striker and extended condolences to his family, friends, teammates and supporters.

The club also appealed for respect for the privacy of his family during the difficult period.

The tragedy has prompted a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the footballer’s death, including possible involuntary manslaughter under Spanish law.

Authorities explained that such proceedings are routinely initiated when a death is considered non-natural. The investigation does not, in itself, establish criminal responsibility on the part of anyone involved in the collision.

Meanwhile, the incident has triggered an outpouring of condolences across the football community.

Spanish football giants, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, expressed sympathy to Tenerife and De Miguel’s family.

FC Andorra also paid tribute to the deceased player, while the club’s president and former Barcelona defender, Gerard Piqué, expressed his condolences.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponed matches scheduled for Tuesday in the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina as a mark of respect.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) also announced that matches across its competitions would observe a minute of silence in memory of the late footballer.

De Miguel joined Tenerife from Castellón ahead of the 2025–2026 season.

Born in Madrid in 1996, he built his career across several Spanish clubs, including Leganés B, Fuenlabrada, Unionistas de Salamanca and Castellón.

He scored 11 goals during the previous season and helped Castellón secure promotion to Spain’s second division.

His death has left teammates, supporters and members of the Spanish football community mourning the loss of a player whose career was cut short by the tragic incident.

Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision

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Super Falcons Receive $100,000 Each as Tinubu Finally Fulfils WAFCON Pledge

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Super Falcons Receive $100,000 Each as Tinubu Finally Fulfils WAFCON Pledge
Super Falcons Receive $100,000 Each as Tinubu Finally Fulfils WAFCON Pledge

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled his financial reward promise to Nigeria’s Super Falcons, with each player receiving the naira equivalent of $100,000 following the team’s historic triumph at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Members of the coaching crew and other team officials have also received the naira equivalent of $50,000 each, completing the cash component of the presidential reward package announced after Nigeria won its record-extending 10th continental title.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed the payments on Monday, November 2, 2026, describing the development as the fulfilment of the President’s financial commitment to the national women’s football team.

The payment brings an end to the outstanding cash component of the reward package, which Tinubu announced during a presidential reception held in honour of the team on July 28, 2025.

Following their historic achievement, the President had promised each of the 24 players the naira equivalent of $100,000, while members of the 11-person technical team were to receive $50,000 each.

He also conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on the players and technical crew and approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments in Abuja to members of the team.

The housing documents and national honours certificates had earlier been presented to the beneficiaries, leaving the cash payments as the outstanding component of the presidential pledge.

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Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, commended Tinubu for honouring his commitment, describing the fulfilment of the reward package as an important development for Nigerian sports.

Dikko said the Super Falcons had made the country proud and deserved recognition for their achievement, adding that the timely delivery of the promised rewards would strengthen confidence among Nigerian athletes.

He also acknowledged the cooperation between the NSC and the Ministries of Finance, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development in ensuring the delivery of the presidential commitments.

According to him, the development represents a departure from previous experiences in which Nigerian athletes sometimes waited several years for government promises made after major international competitions to be fulfilled.

Dikko urged Nigerian athletes to draw encouragement from the development and remain committed to representing the country, assuring them that their sacrifices and achievements deserved recognition.

The Super Falcons earned the historic reward after producing a remarkable comeback against hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 WAFCON.

Nigeria had fallen two goals behind but fought back to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory in Rabat in July 2025, reclaiming the continental crown and extending its record as the most successful country in the history of the women’s African football championship.

The victory marked Nigeria’s 10th WAFCON title and further cemented the Super Falcons’ dominance in African women’s football.

Tinubu’s fulfilment of the promise follows a similar development involving Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, whose players received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each in September 2026 after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket championship.

The basketball players also received three-bedroom apartment allocation documents and OON national honours as part of their presidential reward package.

The latest development reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to recognising sporting achievements and rewarding Nigerian athletes who bring international honours to the country.

Editorial note: The reports give different estimates of the naira equivalent of the $100,000 reward. The article therefore retains the officially stated dollar-equivalent amount without presenting an unconfirmed naira figure as the exact payment.

Super Falcons Receive $100,000 Each as Tinubu Finally Fulfils WAFCON Pledge

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