Lionel Messi's family issued a statement on Thursday confirming that his father, Jorge Messi, is recovering from a health issue and showing positive progress. The statement called for privacy and did not disclose specific details about his condition.
Two days after Argentina's match against Algeria at the World Cup, Messi was seen wiping away tears after scoring his first goal. He explained: "The tears after the first goal? I've had a few difficult days. It's not related to football. And that emotion was because of that."
The family statement came after rumors circulated in Argentina about Jorge Messi's death. The family emphasized: "A person's health and the peace of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible attention from the media."
Jorge Messi has played a key role in his son's career, acting as his representative and managing business affairs. He accompanied Messi during his trial stint at Barcelona's La Masia academy in the early 2000s, negotiated contracts with Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami, and managed image rights as well as investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants.
Messi is currently with his teammates at a training camp in Kansas City, preparing for Argentina's second match against Austria on Monday in Dallas. The family expressed "sincere gratitude" for the concern and requested "respect for the privacy and confidentiality of Jorge and the family throughout this process."
