Lionel Messis family confirms fathers health problems

The family of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi confirmed that his father Jorge is going through serious health issues on Thursday, after rumors of his passing went viral on social media. “At the moment, [Jorge Messi] is under medical treatment, recovering and developing positively within his diagnosis,” the statement reads. It goes on to condemn “rumors and speculations,” insisting the Messi family was unsettled by the “lack of sensitivity, respect, and scruples with which some people have treated a private and personal matter.” The statement also calls for “responsibility, prudence, and humanity” with a person’s life at stake and insists that only the inner circle of Messi’s family has the most accurate and latest information on Jorge Messi’s health. “We sincerely appreciate the expressions of affection, respect, and concern we have received, and we ask that Jorge’s privacy, confidentiality, and personal space — as well as those of his entire family — be respected during this time,” said the statement. The Argentine national team captain’s father had been reported on Wednesday as hospitalized in Buenos Aires after struggling with health issues. On Tuesday, Messi was seen crying after scoring Argentina’s opener vs Algeria, and later confirmed the tears were due to “an issue completely unrelated to sports,” with rumors of his father’s health situation later emerging. Who is Jorge Messi? Born in Rosario, Santa Fe province, on January 1, 1958, Jorge Messi worked for years at a metalworking factory while raising his four children, the youngest of whom is Lionel. It was Jorge Messi’s decision to accept FC Barcelona’s offer to pay for his son’s treatment after he was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), a rare condition that prevents normal bone and tissue growth. After Messi broke out as one of the world’s biggest football stars, Jorge worked as his manager, negotiating and signing with some of the world’s biggest brands. It was not without problems. In 2016, Jorge Messi and his son were charged by a Spanish court with tax fraud amounting to 4.1 million euros between 2007 and 2009.  The court found both guilty of three charges, which they had to settle by paying the owed amount plus interest and a fine. Can Messi visit his family and come back? Given his father’s health, the question on many fans’ minds is whether Lionel Messi can leave the Argentina camp to visit his family and return to the World Cup. FIFA rules allow for a player to leave the training site and return to the squad due to personal emergencies, which would allow Messi to travel to Argentina, although the specifics and timing of the trip need to be planned. During Qatar 2022, England’s Raheem Sterling left the team training ground to attend to personal matters in London, after his family was the victims of a robbery at gunpoint. Four days after traveling to the English capital, the Three Lions confirmed that Sterling was set to resume training with the team. He featured in the quarterfinals loss against France on December 10th. Cover image: Jorge Messi Instagram