Lionel Messi's father suffering from health issues, confirms family

Lionel Messi shed tears during Argentina's 3-0 World Cup opening victory over Algeria due to his father's hospitalisation, an official statement from hia family has confirmed.

Jorge Messi, 68, is currently under medical supervision in Argentina, recovering and "progressing favorably" from an undisclosed health issue.

Playing through the difficult personal situation, Messi scored a hat-trick in Kansas to launch Argentina's title defence in style.

"Jorge is going through a health situation. At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favorably within his current condition. We ask for responsibility, prudence, and humanity. A person’s health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest," Messi's family said in a statement.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Messi had clarified that his tears were entirely personal:"My tears after the first goal? I’ve had some tough, complicated days. It was something completely unrelated to football. I am deeply grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it."