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  "path": "/sport/football/lionel-messi-father-world-cup",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-17T15:50:19.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "World Cup day seven: All the latest as England rumours swirl ahead of Croatia showdown",
    "Wayne Rooney's new look astonishes football fans during BBC World Cup coverage",
    "John Terry accuses FA of doing 'PR job' ahead of England and Croatia World Cup game",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nLionel Messi's tears at the World Cup are understood to have been linked to his father suffering from health problems.\n\nMessi's dad, Jorge, who manages his son's vast commercial interests and acts as his agent, has been battling significant health issues for several months.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMessi broke down on the pitch in Kansas City after netting three times in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria during their tournament opener.\n\nThe footballer shares an exceptionally close bond with his father, who has overseen the building of his multi-million dollar business empire away from the sport.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nArgentine media outlets reported the connection between Messi's rare public display of emotion and his father's condition shortly after the match.\n\nJournalist Eduardo Feinmann shared the reason behind Messi's distress during a broadcast on Radio Mitre, one of Argentina's most popular stations.\n\n\"This has to do with his father. His father is not in good health,\" Feinmann said.\n\n\"For quite some time now, several months, since last year.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * World Cup day seven: All the latest as England rumours swirl ahead of Croatia showdown\n  * Wayne Rooney's new look astonishes football fans during BBC World Cup coverage\n  * John Terry accuses FA of doing 'PR job' ahead of England and Croatia World Cup game\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"And this week, there were some situations that slightly worsened his health, and Messi is going through this internal struggle. In other words, like any human being.\"\n\nReports indicate that Jorge experienced a \"medical episode\" at his house in January, which resulted in him being hospitalised.\n\nFollowing that incident, he reportedly underwent both cardiovascular and neurological examinations, though the family has not publicly confirmed any diagnosis.\n\nWhen speaking to reporters after the match, Messi acknowledged he had been struggling without revealing the specific cause.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWhen asked about his emotions, the Argentine said: \"No, honestly it's something completely unrelated to sports. It's been a few difficult days, complicated.\"\n\nThe Argentine captain expressed his appreciation for those around him during this challenging period.\n\nHe explained: \"I had some difficult, complicated days, but I'm grateful to the entire delegation, to all my teammates because they were always by my side, as always, giving me a lot of strength to be okay, and that's all.\"\n\nMessi chose to focus on the positive aspects of the evening, describing his experience as \"amazing\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHis three goals saw him draw level with Germany's Miroslav Klose at the summit of the all-time World Cup scoring charts, both players now sharing the record with 16 goals.\n\nMessi said: \"Like I say, everything I'm experiencing now is amazing.\n\n\"I was lucky enough to achieve all my dreams, at a level, or even more, than I could have reached individually and as part of a team.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Lionel Messi's father 'suffering health problems' as tearful World Cup reaction explained"
}