As Lionel Messi created history on Monday night in the FIFA World Cup, his fans from two separate generations stole the spotlight, briefly during Argentina’s group-stage match against Austria.
The cameraman spotted two Argentina fans, one, barely a year-old in his mother’s lap and another a 100-year-old grandma, melting the hearts of more than a billion people watching the match from home.
The moment quickly went viral on the internet, with the fans going gaga over the pull that Lionel Messi has, and on why he enjoys the title of one of the greatest, if not, the greatest player in the history of football.
The 100-year-old grandma was identified as Pauline Kana, who goes by “Gangster Granny” online, and at 100 years old, she has turned into one of the most unlikely Messi superfans out there. Born in 1926, before the second World War, she films comedy content with her grandson, Ross Smith, and the two have built enough of a following to land a Guinness World Record.
She was in the stands for Argentina’s win over Austria, cheering Messi on in person. Her fame started with comedy, but Messi has become part of her brand at this point. She tracks his run with both Inter Miami and Argentina, regularly posting videos celebrating his biggest moments.
The second one was, of course, the ‘barely one-year-old’ who had big earphones on while watching the Argentina vs Austria game in the noisy Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
HISTORIC NIGHT FOR LIONEL MESSI
Lionel Messi gave the fans another reason to celebrate in Arlington on Monday, producing yet another World Cup masterclass to lead Argentina to a 2-0 win over Austria.
The Argentina captain scored twice and rewrote history in the process, taking his World Cup tally to 18 goals and becoming the highest scorer in the tournament’s history. His first strike in the 38th minute broke his tie with Germany great Miroslav Klose, while the second, deep into stoppage time, put the result beyond doubt.
The opening goal was vintage Messi – arriving inside the box and finishing first time with his left foot after being found by Facundo Medina. The second was more about instinct, reacting quickest after his initial effort was blocked and firing through a crowded penalty area.
The goals carried added significance considering Messi had earlier missed a penalty in the ninth minute, dragging his effort wide. But if there was frustration, it barely lasted. The 39-year-old kept demanding the ball, kept drifting into dangerous spaces, and eventually found his reward.
Messi’s remarkable longevity makes the numbers even more extraordinary. Eleven of his 18 World Cup goals have now come after turning 35, underlining how he has continued to redefine expectations in the later years of his career. By the final whistle, Argentina had secured qualification and Messi had added another chapter to a career that increasingly feels impossible to measure against anyone else’s.
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