Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge, is “experiencing health issues”, a statement from the family said on Thursday.Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria on Tuesday, and after his first goal was visibly emotional. The 38-year-old forward was seen wiping tears from his eyes and revealed after the victory that his emotional reaction was due to him having “some difficult, complicated days.”Two days later, the Messi family released a statement confirming that Jorge, 68, was suffering from an unspecified medical issue. “In these moments, he is under close medical attention, recovering and progressing positively given his condition,” the family said.“The family wants to make clear that only the closest family members have real and precise information about Jorge’s situation. Therefore, any other version or information that does not come from the corresponding and adequate sources can’t be considered trustworthy or real.“In moments like these, we ask for responsibility, compassion and humanity. A person’s health and well-being should not be a motive for speculation.“We thank all the shows of support, respect and concern we have received, and we demand that confidentiality be respected, as well as Jorge’s own privacy throughout all this process.”Jorge Messi has played a significant role in his son’s career, having served as his agent and business manager.Jorge was formerly a Portuguese nightclub DJ. Despite advisors and counsellors departing Messi’s team over the years, often after fallings out, the father-son duo remain linked and “appear to act and think as one”.After Tuesday’s victory, Messi was asked by reporters about his reaction to scoring, to which he replied: “Honestly, (it was) completely unrelated to the sport. I went through some difficult, complicated days.“I’m grateful to the entire delegation, to my teammates. They were always there for me, as always. They gave me a lot of strength to get through this, and that’s all.”Argentina are next in action against Austria on Monday.Jun 18, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms