99‑year‑old Pauline Kana cheers Messi at World Cup match in Dallas

Pauline Kana, a 99‑year‑old fan known online as “Gangster Granny,” drew global attention when she attended the Argentina‑Austria World Cup match at Dallas’s stadium. Holding a sign that read “Fan 100 years old of Messi,” she was seated among tens of thousands of spectators and was featured on broadcast screens.

Kana, who previously set a Guinness record for the oldest person to be crowdsurfed in Texas, has about 25 million social‑media followers. Her appearance coincided with Lionel Messi scoring two goals, including his 17th World Cup goal that moved him past Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all‑time leading scorer. The viral moment highlighted both her enduring fan devotion and Messi’s historic performance.

The story underscores the blend of personal internet fame and major sporting events, as Kana continues to document Messi’s career from club matches to the World Cup, attracting widespread media coverage.