An Argentine television reporter has resigned after falsely claiming that Jorge Messi, father of football superstar Lionel Messi, had passed away.

The incorrect report emerged shortly after Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, a match that had already drawn significant attention due to the emotional reactions of both Lionel Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni.

Both Messi and Scaloni were seen in tears following the final whistle, prompting widespread speculation about the reasons behind their visible distress after a commanding win.

Reports quickly circulated in Argentina that the Messi family were dealing with a serious illness, with speculation pointing toward Jorge Messi as the family member affected.

Some outlets in Argentina went further, claiming that Jorge Messi had died, a report that caused immediate uproar and drew fierce condemnation from the family.

Messi himself moved swiftly to deny those reports, and the family released an official statement clarifying that Jorge Messi was dealing with a health situation but was receiving treatment and progressing well.

The family statement also expressed deep frustration at the invasion of their privacy, noting that only those closest to Jorge Messi had access to accurate information about his condition.

The reporter responsible for the false death report, Florencia Pena, announced her resignation live on Luzu TV and followed up with a public statement posted to social media addressing both the error and its consequences.

“I apologise to the Messi family for the awful moment I imagine they are going through,” Pena wrote, adding, “I am deeply ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain.”

Pena sought to provide context for how the error occurred, stating, “I must clarify that this false information was provided to me during the live broadcast as verified by the production team of the show, and I trusted it.”

Despite placing some responsibility on the production team, Pena made clear she was not seeking to avoid personal accountability for her role in spreading the false report.

“Even so, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, and that’s why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu,” she wrote, concluding, “I apologise again from the heart; I was wrong.”

The incident has sparked a broader conversation in Argentina about journalistic responsibility, the speed at which unverified information spreads during major sporting events, and the pressure reporters face to break news in real time.

Messi’s hat-trick against Algeria had been the historic highlight of the match, making the subsequent media controversy a painful backdrop to what should have been a moment of pure celebration for the Argentine camp.

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