Florencia Peña Resigns After False Messi Death Report

Florencia Peña, a 51-year-old television host on Luzu TV, resigned following a false report about the death of Lionel Messi's father during a live broadcast. The incident occurred during Argentina's first World Cup game against Algeria, where Peña claimed Messi's father had passed away.

This misinformation quickly circulated on social media, leading to widespread criticism. Peña later clarified that she had not confirmed the information and apologized publicly.

Messi's family issued a statement confirming that Jorg Messi, aged 68, was receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed health condition. The report drew condemnation from various quarters, including Argentina's President Javier Milei, who criticized the failure to verify such sensitive information.

Luzu TV announced disciplinary action against Peña for disseminating unverified information, and she expressed regret for the incident, reaffirming her commitment to responsible journalism. Messi scored a hat trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria on the same day.