Argentina captain Lionel Messi's 68-year-old father, Jorge Messi, is under medical supervision.
Messi's family has issued a statement appealing to respect their privacy and not spread rumors.
Messi recently equaled Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals.
Argentina's next match will be against Austria at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Dallas | Amidst the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Argentina's captain Lionel Messi is going through a difficult personal phase. His father, Jorge Messi, is unwell, following which Messi's family has issued an emotional statement.
Family Appeals for Privacy
Messi's family issued a statement on Thursday urging the public and media to respect the privacy of his 68-year-old father, Jorge Messi.
The family has confirmed that Jorge Messi is currently under medical supervision and is receiving treatment. However, no specific details about his illness have been shared.
This news comes at a time when Messi is performing brilliantly on the field. He recently scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory against Algeria.
With this hat-trick, Messi equaled Germany's Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals in the World Cup.
After the match, Messi himself had said that he was going through some "difficult days" and his emotions were not related to football, which had worried the fans.
Father's Important Contribution to Career
Jorge Messi has always played a significant role in shaping his son Lionel Messi's career. He was also his agent for a long time.
Now, the Argentinian team is preparing to face Austria in their next group match. This match will be played at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
In this difficult time, Messi and his family want only one thing - for the privacy of Jorge Messi and the entire family to be respected so they can deal with this situation peacefully.