Lionel Messi's father is receiving medical care for an undisclosed health issue, prompting his family to appeal for "humanity" from the media on Thursday, as rumors swirled about Jorge Messi's condition while his son competes in the World Cup.
The family did not reveal the specific illness affecting the 68-year-old Jorge Messi. "Jorge is going through a health situation," the Messi family stated. "He is currently under medical observation, recovering and progressing favorably within his current condition."
Following Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening World Cup match, the 38-year-old Messi acknowledged he was dealing with a difficult personal situation. He became emotional after scoring the first of his three goals, tying Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 16 goals. "My tears after the first goal? I've had some tough days. It wasn't related to soccer. And those feelings were because of that," Messi said. "I thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the delegation for helping me."
The family statement, released through Messi's media office, came on the same day that reports of Jorge Messi's death circulated in Argentina. "At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence and humanity," the family said. "A person's health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest."
Jorge Messi has been instrumental in his son's football career, serving as his agent and managing his business affairs. He accompanied a young Messi to Barcelona for a tryout at La Masia in the early 2000s, negotiated contracts with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, and managed image rights and investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants. In 2016, both Messi and his father were convicted in Spain on tax evasion charges but avoided prison due to sentences under two years.
While Messi remains with his teammates at Argentina's base camp in Kansas City, preparing for their second group match against Austria on Monday in Dallas, his family expressed sincere gratitude for the outpouring of affection and concern. They requested that the privacy and confidentiality of Jorge and the entire family be respected during this process.
