Lionel Messi's tears during a World Cup match were linked to his father's health issues.
On June 19, the BBC reported that Messi's family announced his father, Jorge Messi, is undergoing treatment for health problems.
The family stated, "He is currently under medical supervision and is recovering with positive progress."
Earlier, Messi wept after scoring a hat trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria in the group stage of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. This marked Messi's first World Cup hat trick.
With his three goals, Messi joined Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, both with 16 goals.
While Messi's hat trick drew significant attention, his tears were equally notable. According to the BBC, Messi said immediately after the match, "The reason I cried had nothing to do with football." He added, "It was a tough day, and my teammates and the national team were always there for me, giving me strength to get through it."
As speculation about his father's health grew, the family issued a statement expressing discomfort over the lack of respect for their privacy. They emphasized, "In light of the rumors that have circulated in recent hours, we feel deeply uncomfortable that some people are not respecting this private family matter."
They clarified, "Only the closest family and relatives know the accurate and truthful information regarding Jorge's condition," and stressed that any information not disclosed through family or official channels should not be considered true.
The family concluded by thanking everyone for their love, respect, and concern, while hoping for privacy regarding Jorge and the family's personal matters.
Argentina is set to play its second group match against Austria on June 22, followed by a final group match against Jordan on June 28.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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