BUENOS AIRES — An Argentine television host resigned this week after falsely reporting on air that the father of football star Lionel Messi had died, prompting a public apology, criticism from the Messi family and disciplinary action by the streaming broadcaster involved.
Florencia Peña stepped down from her role at Luzu TV after she announced during a live broadcast that Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of the Argentina captain, had died. The claim was quickly disproved by the Messi family, which confirmed that Jorge Messi was alive and recovering from an undisclosed health condition under medical supervision.
The incident occurred during heightened public attention surrounding Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Following Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, Messi appeared emotional on the field and later referred to “difficult days” in his personal life, without providing details. The remarks fueled speculation about his father’s health, which several media outlets and social media accounts discussed in the days that followed.
During the broadcast, Peña said she had received information indicating that Jorge Messi had died. Minutes later, the report was challenged and ultimately shown to be false. Peña subsequently apologized publicly and accepted responsibility for repeating unverified information, while saying the claim had been passed to her by production staff during the live program.
In a statement released on June 18, the Messi family said Jorge Messi was “recovering and progressing favorably” while under medical observation. The family also criticized what it described as a lack of sensitivity and responsibility surrounding speculation about his condition.
“The family wishes to clarify that only its closest members have real and accurate information regarding Jorge’s condition,” the statement said, urging the public and media organizations to show “responsibility, prudence and humanity.”
Luzu TV said the dissemination of sensitive information without proper verification was unacceptable. The company announced the departure of Peña and other staff members involved in the broadcast and reaffirmed its commitment to responsible journalism and rigorous fact-checking procedures.
The controversy generated widespread reaction in Argentina, where Messi remains one of the country’s most prominent public figures. Broadcaster and Luzu TV founder Nico Occhiato publicly condemned the incident, describing the error as inconsistent with the standards the platform seeks to uphold.
As of Friday, Jorge Messi remained under medical care, according to family statements, and no further details about his condition had been released. Peña had not announced any immediate plans regarding future broadcasting work beyond her resignation from Luzu TV.
