Di family of Lionel Messi don confirm say di Argentina star papa, Jorge Messi, dey face health wahala. According to statement wey dem send to ESPN, Jorge dey under medical supervision, dey recover, and dey progress well for im current condition.
Di Messi family also address di plenty rumors wey dey fly about Jorge health status. Dem deny any information wey no come from official channels. Di family no specify di illness wey dey affect Jorge, wey be 68 years old.
“Given di versions, rumors, and speculation wey don circulate for recent hours, di family wish to express dem deep displeasure at di lack of sensitivity, respect, and scruples wey some people don treat a strictly private and family matter,” di statement tok.
“Di family also wish to clarify say only im closest family members get accurate and reliable information about Jorge condition. Therefore, any version, statement, or information wey no come from di family itself and its official channels no go valid or true. At times like these, we dey ask for responsibility, prudence, and compassion.”
Di statement add say: “A person health and di peace of mind of those around dem no go subject to speculation or irresponsible media interest. We sincerely appreciate di expressions of affection, respect, and concern wey we receive, and we request say di privacy, confidentiality, and intimacy of Jorge and im entire family go respect during this process. Any relevant updates go communicate promptly by di family and through di appropriate channels.”
Lionel Messi bin get emotional well well during im first goal against Algeria for Argentina opening 2026 World Cup match. Later, e explain say di tears come from matters outside football. “Why I cry? Na something wey completely unrelated to football,” Messi tok on Tuesday. “I go through some difficult days, but I dey grateful to di whole delegation and my teammates because dem always dey by my side, giving me plenty strength to help me get through am.”
Messi make history during Argentina 3-0 victory over Algeria by joining Miroslav Klose (16 goals) as di highest scorer for men World Cup, while also pass Pelé (21) for di most goal contributions for men World Cup history (24 — 16 goals, eight assists).
After scoring im first of three goals for dat match for Kansas City, Messi look into camera and pour out im heart: “I love you, Dad,” e say, im face full emotion. Almost two hours later, during television interview after dem name am best player for Argentina 3-0 win, e become even more emotional, expressing gratitude for di support wey e receive from im teammates and di rest of di delegation during di lead-up to di FIFA World Cup.
“Na matter wey unrelated to sports. I go through some difficult, trying days,” Messi tok. “I dey grateful to di delegation and all my teammates. Dem always dey by my side and give me di strength to dey OK.”
Di reason for im tears na di anguish wey e don endure since im papa, Jorge, dem diagnose with serious illness. Unable to join am for di stands for dis tournament, im papa no fit dey there to support am as e don do countless times since Messi be teenager.
Beyond di tears and emotion, dis more mature Messi — wey near 39th birthday and once again shouldering di responsibility of leading di reigning world champions despite di hardships — let am all out for di way e know best: with di ball for im feet. “Every match go dey physically very intense,” e explain after im brilliant performance. “I always like to give my absolute best.”
Messi open di scoring midway through di first half with left-footed strike from mid-range wey beat Luca Zidane (di son of French legend Zinedine Zidane), following brilliant pass from midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. E score again for di second half: first with gentle touch of im right foot, capitalizing on rebound from Zidane after powerful shot by central midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, and then with im signature finish, firing low left-footed shot inside di post while surrounded by defenders after receiving short pass from winger Nicolás González.
Minutes later, with di job done, dem substitute am — a rarity for player wey typically refuse to miss any minute of any match — and e receive standing ovation from di packed Kansas City stadium, wey hold 69,045 spectators. Im coach, Lionel Scaloni, wey hail from di same club as Messi, Newell’s Old Boys for di Argentine city of Rosario, give am huge and emotional hug.
Di three-time world champions go play again on Monday for Dallas against Austria, wey make dem tournament debut earlier dat same night with 3-1 victory over Jordan for di group other match for Santa Clara, Calif.
Before im first goal, Messi don already display im immense talent with exquisite finish to beat Zidane, but di play dem rule out for tight offside call — much like wetin happen minutes later to Algeria during dem first dangerous attack on Emiliano Martínez goal. For di second half, dem bring am down inside di penalty area, but Polish referee Szymon Marciniak — wey officiate di glorious 2022 final against France for Qatar — rule say no foul don occur.
As if dat no enough, di Argentine captain commitment to di team goal of successfully defending dem Qatar 2022 title also dey evident when e win back possession twice for defense while di match still scoreless.
Na Messi first hat trick for di 27 matches wey e don play for six World Cups, allowing am to tie former German striker Miroslav Klose as di tournament all-time leading scorer, with 16 goals each. “Na honor. You get Mbappé, Ronaldo. Dem just statistics. Ronaldo be one of di greatest, and e no first, so na just statistics,” di Argentine tok, referring to former Brazilian forward Ronaldo Nazário, wey amass 15 goals during im World Cup career.
Earlier dat same Tuesday, French forward Kylian Mbappé score twice for France 3-1 victory over Senegal for New Jersey, tying former German striker Gerd Müller with 14 goals. For di other match of Group I on Tuesday, striker Erling Haaland also score twice for Norway 4-1 rout of Iraq for Boston.
As di warm Kansas City night draw to close, Messi — winner of eight Ballons d’Or — send message: despite turning 39 next Wednesday, e no dey ready to step down from im throne.
