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TV host resigns after falsely reporting Messi's withdrawal from World Cup due to father's death

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • An Argentine TV host resigned after falsely reporting that soccer star Lionel Messi would withdraw from the 2026 World Cup due to his father's death.
  • The news was confirmed to be fake, and Messi's family stated his father was hospitalized for health issues but was recovering.
  • The TV channel apologized, fired responsible staff, and lost 10 sponsors following the incident.

An Argentine television host has resigned after spreading a false report that soccer superstar Lionel Messi would withdraw from the 2026 World Cup following his father's death. Florencia Peña, a host on Luzu TV, made the erroneous claim during a live broadcast.

The report was quickly debunked. Messi's family issued a statement clarifying that his father, Jorge Messi, had been hospitalized due to health issues but was in recovery. They emphasized that only close family members had accurate information about his condition.

Following the incident, Peña apologized to Messi's family and stepped down from her role. She stated that the false information was fed to her through an earpiece by the production team, who claimed the news had been verified. Luzu TV, a popular news platform in Argentina, also issued an apology. In addition to Peña's resignation, other responsible individuals were dismissed, and the channel reportedly lost 10 sponsors.

his father Jorge Messi was hospitalized for health problems, but his condition is improving.

— Messi family statementA statement from the Messi family clarified the health status of Lionel Messi's father after the false report.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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