100-year-old Messi fan goes viral for 'marry me' sign

A 100-year-old American woman, Pauline Kana, captured the hearts of football fans when she appeared in the stands at the 2026 World Cup to cheer on Lionel Messi during Argentina's match against Austria.

A photo of the centenarian holding up a sign that read "100-Year-Old Messi Fan" was broadcast on the stadium's giant screens in Texas on Monday (local time). The moment quickly drew the attention of spectators and fans worldwide, turning her into an instant highlight of the match.

Pauline Kana holds up a sign that says 100-Year-Old Messi Fan during the match between Argentina and Australia in the 2026 World Cup on June 22, 2026.

Pauline Kana holds up a sign that says "100-Year-Old Messi Fan" during the match between Argentina and Australia in the 2026 World Cup on June 22, 2026.

Born in 1926 in Ohio, Kana is no stranger to the football world. Alongside her family, she regularly travels to attend matches featuring the Argentine icon. Despite her advanced age, her passion for the sport has never waned.

Her dedicated fandom dates back to 2023, when Messi moved to the U.S. to play for Inter Miami, prompting Kana to become a regular at the team's home stadium, ESPN reported.

She first went viral in early 2024 after holding up a playful "Messi, will you marry me?" sign dedicated to the superstar. Spotting the sign from the pitch, Messi smiled and waved directly at her, creating a heartwarming moment that garnered millions of views across social media platforms.

Pauline Kana holds a sign with a proposal message for Lionel Messi at one of his matches in 2024, in a video shared on social media.
Beyond her love for football, Kana is widely recognized online as "Gangster Granny." Together with her grandson, Ross Smith, she creates content for a popular social media channel, attracting millions of followers through comedic videos, costumes and viral online challenges, according to Athlon Sports.

In May 2026, she officially entered the Guinness World Records as the oldest person to participate in crowd surfing during a concert in Texas. The high-energy stunt involves a person being lifted up and passed over the heads of the audience, a staple at music festivals.

In Arlington on Monday, Kana witnessed Argentina secure a victory over Austria, powered by a wonderful brace from Messi.

Those two goals brought Messi's World Cup tally to historic 18 goals. The achievement breaks the long-standing record of 16 goals previously held by German striking legend Miroslav Klose.

A city in Neuquén Province, Argentina, has unveiled a 26-m-tall statue of Lionel Messi, which is believed to be the tallest of its kind in the world, surpassing a previous structure dedicated to the football legend in India.

Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 on Monday, securing a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 tournament.

Algeria have lodged a complaint about alleged poor refereeing during their 3-0 World Cup ‌defeat by Argentina this week, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Lionel Messi set an unwanted World Cup record on Monday when he missed a penalty against Austria, becoming the player with the most missed spot kicks in tournament history.

According to Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario, it is time for the football world to end all debates and recognize Lionel Messi as the greatest player in history following his World Cup's topscorer record.