Argentine television presenter Florencia Peña has resigned from her position at Luzu TV after wrongly announcing on air that Lionel Messi’s father Jorge had died during the ongoing 2026 World Cup.
The incident occurred shortly after Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, in which Messi scored a hat-trick, when Peña relayed the false information during a live broadcast.
“I don’t want to break bad news, but Messi’s father just died,” Peña told viewers. “Right in the middle of the World Cup, he’s going to have to leave,” she added.
Clips of the broadcast spread rapidly on social media, prompting Messi’s family to issue a statement clarifying that Jorge Messi, 68, was alive and recovering under medical supervision.
“The Messi family informs that Jorge Messi is currently dealing with a health situation. At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering, and showing positive progress in his condition,” the family said.
They expressed discomfort at the “lack of sensitivity, respect, and decency” shown by some in discussing a private family matter.
Peña later issued a public apology, saying she was “deeply ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain” and took responsibility by stepping down from the programme.
Luzu TV also announced staff departures following the error. The episode has highlighted the dangers of unverified information during major sporting events.
