Presenter forced to quit after falsely reporting Lionel Messi’s dad died during World Cup

An Argentine TV host has been forced to step down after making a shocking false report that Lionel Messi's dad had passed away.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Messi reminded football fans that he is still one of the best players in the world with a dominant performance in Argentina's 2026 World Cup opener.

The Inter Miami star netted a hat-trick as Argentina began the defence of their World Cup title with a 3-0 win over Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium.

Messi will have no doubt been on cloud nine following the match, as moved level with Miroslav Klose as the highest scorer in World Cup history while also claiming the record as the oldest player to score a hat trick in a World Cup match.

Therefore, he will have been completely shocked to wake up to erroneous reports claiming that his father had died just one day after the match.

Argentine TV host Florencia Peña made the false during a live broadcast of Luzu TV’s “El Show del Verano” on Thursday.

“I don’t want to break bad news, but Messi’s father just died,” Peña said, via to the US Sun.

“Right in the middle of the World Cup, he’s going to have to leave,” she falsely added.

Shortly after the shocking report, the Messi family issued a statement criticising the irresponsible reporting while confirming that Jorge Messi was alive, but battling undisclosed health issue.

“He is currently under medical supervision, recovering, and progressing favourably within his current condition,” the family said in the statement.

“Given the versions, rumours, and speculation that have circulated in recent hours, the family wishes to express its deep displeasure at the lack of sensitivity, respect, and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter."

Florencia Peña quits after falsely claiming Jorge Messi had died

Unsurprisingly, Peña's false report was met with backlash given the nature of her claims, forcing her to speak out and address the situation.

In a statement shared on her Instagram story, the TV host apologised to the Messi family, but claimed that the information had been passed on from the show's production team.

“I have to clarify that this false information was given to me live on air as if it had been checked the show’s production team, and I trusted it,” Peña wrote.

“I apologise to the Messi family for the awful moment I imagine they are going through. I am very ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain,” she said.

“Even so, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, and that is why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu. I apologise again from the bottom of my heart: I was wrong.”

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Luzu TV, the television station that aired the report, also released a statement adding that they regretted the report and had dismissed 'all those responsible'.

The station didn't confirm if Peña had had the decision to step down by herself or had been asked to do so, nor did it comment on her claims that the production team had sourced the erroneous information.

“Luzu TV deeply regrets what happened on air during the program. Our channel finds the dissemination of sensitive information without proper prior verification unacceptable. For this reason, Luzu TV management has decided to dismiss all those responsible. Florencia Peña will decide to step down,” the station said in a statement shared by founder Nico Occhiato.

“We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, respectful and rigorous communication.”