World Cup Scandal: Host Florencia Peña Resigns After Falsely Announcing Death of Lionel Messi’s Father

A massive media storm has hit Argentina during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Famous Argentine television presenter and actress Florencia Peña has officially resigned from her role on Luzu TV after mistakenly announcing live on air that Jorge Messi, the father of Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi, had passed away.

The horrifying mistake occurred during the live broadcast of El Show del Verano right after Argentina’s 3-0 group-stage victory over Algeria, a match where Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick and was seen visibly emotional on the pitch.

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As the false news went viral, triggering panic and outrage across social media and prompting a direct rebuke from Argentine President Javier Milei, Peña broke down in tears. She explained that she trusted an unverified prompt given to her by her production team via her cucaracha (in-ear monitor).

“I apologize to the Messi family for the awful moment I imagine they are going through. I am deeply ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain. Even so, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, and that's why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu. I was wrong.”

The presenter went a step further, personally contacting Lionel Messi's mother, Celia Cuccittini, who graciously accepted her tearful apology and recognized that it was an operational mistake by the control room.

Despite the personal stress behind the scenes, Lionel Messi and the Argentina national squad are staying focused on their 2026 World Cup campaign, with their next group-stage clash scheduled against Austria.

Credit Photo: Via EconomicTimes