Lionel Messi’s family issued an unusual public statement on Thursday saying his father, Jorge Messi, is facing a medical issue and is under observation. The announcement came amid a wave of rumors surrounding the Argentina captain during the World Cup, after he was seen crying after scoring his first goal against Algeria earlier in the week.
The family said Jorge Messi is “under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favorably,” but stressed that only close relatives know the full details. They said any version of events not coming directly from them is “not valid or true.”
The statement also attacked sections of the media and social networks for what the family called a lack of “sensitivity, respect and discretion” over a private family matter. They asked for “responsibility, caution and humanity,” adding that a person’s health and the peace of mind of loved ones should not become the subject of irresponsible rumors or media attention.
After the match, people close to Messi said the days leading up to it had been especially difficult for him personally, helping explain the emotional scenes seen by millions of viewers. Messi declined to discuss the details when asked about his tears, saying only, “Honestly, it’s something not related to sport,” and that he had been through “some hard and complicated days.” He thanked teammates and staff for supporting him and helping him cope.
