Lionel Messi's family pleads for 'humanity'

"Jorge is going through a health situation," the Messi family said in a statement. "He is currently under medical observation, recovering and progressing favourably within his current condition."

The 38-year-old Messi said after Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria in the team's opening World Cup match he was going through a difficult personal situation.

He was very emotional after scoring the first of his three goals, which allowed him to equal Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals.

"My tears after the first goal? I've had some tough days. It wasn't related to soccer. And those feelings were because of that," Messi said. "I thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the delegation for helping me."

The family statement, released by Messi's media office, came on the same day that reports of Jorge Messi's death circulated in Argentina.

"At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence and humanity," the family said. "A person's health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest."

The statement said any further developments would be communicated by the family.

Jorge Messi played a key role in his third son's soccer career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs off the field.

He accompanied the young Messi to Barcelona in the early 2000s for a tryout at La Masia, the Spanish club's youth academy.

His father also negotiated Messi's contracts with Barcelona and then his transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, while also managing his son's image rights and several investments in real estate, hotels and restaurants.

In 2016, Messi and his father were convicted in Spain on tax evasion charges but avoided prison time because the sentence was less than two years.

While Messi is with his teammates at Argentina's base camp in Kansas City awaiting their second group match against Austria on Monday in Dallas, his family expressed their "sincere gratitude for the outpouring of affection, respect and concern received."

"We request that the privacy and confidentiality of Jorge and his entire family be respected during this process," the statement said.