Argentine Lionel Mes (AP Photo)
An Argentine TV presenter has resigned from her job after incorrectly announcing on live television that Lionel Messi’s father had died during Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.Florencia Pena made the claim during an appearance on Luzu TV shortly after Argentina’s opening World Cup match against Algeria.
During the broadcast, she informed viewers that Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, had died unexpectedly.“I don’t want to bring bad news, but Messi’s father just died. It was sudden. In the middle of the World Cup,” she said on air.The report was quickly proven to be false, prompting Pena to issue a public apology and explain how the false information came to her during the live show. In a statement posted on X, she said she was told the information had already been verified by the show’s production team.“I must clarify that this false information was provided to me during the live broadcast, as verified by the show’s production team, and I trusted it,” she wrote on Friday.She added, “Nevertheless, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, which is why I have decided to step down and end my participation in Lozo. I apologize again from the heart; I was wrong.”Luzu TV also issued a statement condemning the broadcast of unconfirmed information and confirming that disciplinary measures will be taken over the incident.
The channel stressed that transmitting sensitive news without properly verifying it is unacceptable.“We at Luzu TV deeply regret what happened on air during El Show de Verano. For our channel, broadcasting sensitive information without proper prior verification is unacceptable.“For this reason, the management of Luzu TV has decided to terminate the employment of all officials, and Florencia Pena has decided to step down.“We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, respectful and rigorous journalism.”Amid the controversy, Messi’s family issued an update on Jorge Messi’s health condition, confirming that he is currently receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition.The family statement said: “At this time, he is under medical supervision, and is recovering and progressing positively within his condition.”The incident occurred just hours after Messi gave an unforgettable performance with Argentina. The 38-year-old captain scored a hat-trick in his side’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Messi appeared emotional during the match and later admitted that he was facing “difficult days” due to personal circumstances unrelated to football.Argentina will continue its World Cup campaign against Austria on Monday.