Lionel Messi's father, Jorge, is reportedly suffering from serious health problems, which led to the footballer's emotional breakdown after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria in the World Cup.
Emotional Display on the Pitch
The 39-year-old Argentine star made history by tying Miroslav Klose's record for most men's World Cup goals with a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria on Tuesday night. As he scored his first goal, Messi broke down in tears on the pitch, leaving fans and commentators puzzled.
Messi's Explanation
After the match, when asked about his emotional reaction, Messi stated: "No, honestly it's something completely unrelated to sports. It's been a few difficult days, complicated." He added: "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."
Insider Reveals Father's Condition
Shortly after the game, sports reporter Eduardo Feinmann disclosed on Radio Mitre, one of Argentina's most popular stations, that Messi's father is unwell. Feinmann said: "This has to do with his father. His father is not in good health. For quite some time now, several months, since last year. 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."
Medical History
Reports indicate that Jorge Messi experienced a "medical episode" in January while at home, requiring hospitalization. He has since undergone cardiovascular and neurological tests. Jorge has been a significant influence on Lionel's football career and continues to serve as his agent and business manager.
