A television presenter in Argentina, Florencia Peña, resigned after falsely announcing on air the death of Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi.

Luzu TV fired the production staff involved in passing unverified information and issued public statements taking accountability, with founder Nicolás Occhiato condemning the error.

Peña apologized publicly, explaining she trusted the production team during the live broadcast and stepped aside from her role.

The report frames the incident within Messi’s ongoing World Cup run and the broader media scrutiny surrounding the team’s performances.

Political reactions followed, including criticism from far-right President Javier Milei over media ethics and support for Messi amid the controversy.

The Messi family issued statements clarifying that Jorge Messi is alive and under medical care, urging reliance on official channels and condemning the spread of private information.

The family emphasized the importance of privacy and advised following official family communications for updates.

Messi’s mother publicly denied the death claim and noted Jorge Messi’s health status, prompting media clarification.

Argentina’s president publicly criticized Peña’s actions on social media, arguing that targeting Messi affects everyone.

The false report spread rapidly online, raising questions about on-air accuracy during major sports events given Messi’s prominence.

Messi’s personal impact is highlighted, with mentions of challenging times following the victory over Algeria and the emotional dimensions of the World Cup campaign.

Messi’s mother offered Peña support and suggested meeting for coffee once the situation calms.