Lionel Messi has spent his international career chasing one thing above everything else, a World Cup with Argentina. He finally got there in 2022, a year after breaking through with a long-awaited Copa América title in 2021.
That win opened the floodgates, with the Finalissima following soon after. Messi is still going strong for Argentina today, sitting on 122 international goals, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo's 143, with more than 200 caps to his name.
His place among the greatest to ever play the sport is already locked in. Argentina still looks dangerous into another World Cup run, built around a deep roster, a system that fits its talent, and Messi still leading the way.
Fans want one more title to close out his international story, but his pull goes far beyond what happens on the field. Few players in the sport have built a fanbase quite like his, and one supporter in particular has become impossible to ignore.
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Meet Pauline Kana, the 100-Year-Old Messi Superfan Going Viral
Pauline Kana goes by "Gangster Granny" online, and at 100 years old, she has turned into one of the most unlikely Messi superfans out there. 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 even 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.
It says a lot about Messi's reach that he connects with a 100-year-old TikTok star just as easily as he does with lifelong fans.
Pauline has built nearly 25 million followers on TikTok alone, with millions more watching across Instagram and YouTube, often catching her in WWE run-ins, sports event cameos, or holding up signs that get people laughing everywhere she goes.
