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

Lionel Messi

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.