Online Reporter
Argentine television presenter Florencia Peña has resigned from her role at Luzu TV after incorrectly announcing live on air that Jorge Messi, the father of football superstar Lionel Messi, had died.
The incident unfolded during the 2026 Fifa World Cup shortly after Argentina’s opening group stage victory. The false report quickly spread across social media, sparking confusion and concern among football fans around the world.
The controversy came after Lionel delivered a standout performance in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, scoring a hat trick and leading his side to an impressive start to the tournament.
Following the match, Lionel appeared emotional and revealed that he had been dealing with what he described as “difficult days” due to personal matters unrelated to football.
Those comments led to widespread speculation online. During an episode of “El Show del Verano”, Peña addressed the rumours and made a shocking announcement.
“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.
She went on to suggest that the situation could force Lionel to leave the tournament and abandon Argentina’s hopes of defending their World Cup title. Within minutes, clips of the broadcast were circulating online. Fans reacted with disbelief as the claim spread rapidly across multiple platforms.
The Messi family was soon forced to respond. In a statement aimed at stopping the misinformation, they confirmed that Jorge, who is 68, is alive and currently receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed health condition.
The family explained that he remains under professional medical supervision and is recovering. They also criticised the circulation of unverified reports and asked for privacy during what they described as a challenging period.
According to the statement, the focus should remain on Jorge’s health rather than speculation and rumours. As criticism mounted, Peña took to social media to apologise and announce her departure from Luzu TV. “I apologise to the Messi family. I am deeply ashamed to have been involved in this mistake,” she wrote.
Peña explained that the information had been presented to her during the live broadcast as a verified fact 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.”
Despite that explanation, she accepted responsibility for repeating the claim.
“Even so, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, and that is why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu. I apologise again from the heart. I was wrong.” -IOL
