A false report claiming Lionel Messi’s father had died circulated widely online, causing significant distress. Juan Otero, the son of Argentine actress Flor Peña, publicly commented on the swift removal of the false story from a prominent online platform, stating it was taken down quickly after initial publication. Otero noted his mother was experiencing a particularly positive period in her career at the time of the incident. The origin of the hoax remains under investigation, but it quickly spread across social media and news websites. Messi’s family has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the incident, but sources indicate they were deeply affected. The incident highlights the dangers of misinformation and the speed at which false news can spread in the digital age.