Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria in its 2026 World Cup opener was historic for Lionel Messi, who scored a hat trick and moved to the top of the tournament's all-time scoring chart. But after the match, Messi was seen crying, and he later said the reason was not football related. Argentine media now say the tears were tied to the health of his father, Jorge Messi.
Messi said after the game, "His crying is not something related to football, I'm going through hard times." Journalist Eduardo Feinmann said on Radio Mitre that Jorge Messi, 68, is dealing with a significant medical problem. According to Feinmann, the issue has been ongoing for several months and worsened somewhat in the last week.
Reports in Argentina say Jorge suffered a health incident in January and then underwent a series of cardiac and neurological tests. The family has not disclosed an official diagnosis, and the details of his condition remain unclear. Jorge Messi also serves as Leo Messi's agent and business manager.
Neither Messi's circle nor the Argentina national team has publicly commented on the reports. The episode at the start of the World Cup again highlighted the central role of family in the captain's life and the emotional weight surrounding even his biggest career moments.
