Updated August 14, 2026.
Pauline Kana became a 2026 World Cup favorite when the broadcast showed her supporting Lionel Messi during Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria. Her sign called her a “100-year-old Messi fan,” but biographical reports place her birth in August 1926, which would have made her 99 at the June match and close to her 100th birthday.
Who is Pauline Kana?
Kana is an American comedy creator known online as “Gangster Granny” and “Granny Smith.” She has appeared for years in videos made with her grandson, Ross Smith, building an audience long before the World Cup.
The pair first drew attention on Vine and later expanded to TikTok and Instagram. In May 2026, Guinness World Records recognized Kana as the oldest person to crowd-surf, another planned social-media event that introduced her to new viewers.
The moment at Argentina vs. Austria
Kana attended Argentina’s group match against Austria wearing the national team’s colors and holding a sign supporting Messi. The official broadcast cut to her in the stands, and screenshots circulated internationally.
The timing magnified the scene. Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win and, according to match coverage, reached 18 World Cup goals. Kana’s enthusiastic reaction supplied a ready-made human-interest image alongside the sporting milestone.
Was she an unknown fan discovered by television?
No. Although many viewers encountered Kana for the first time during the match, she was already a professional-scale social-media personality with millions of followers through accounts run with her grandson. She had also posted Messi-themed material and attended Inter Miami games before the 2026 tournament.
That background does not make her enjoyment fake. It does mean the moment should not be framed as if cameras randomly discovered an anonymous centenarian with no public profile. Viral content can be both genuine and shaped by an existing media brand.
Be cautious with quotes attributed to Messi
Posts later claimed Messi delivered a long tribute to Kana, describing what it meant to see a fan who had lived through a century. Lead Stories traced those words to a fan account, not to Messi.
Verified video showed Messi thanking Argentina supporters generally after an earlier match, but it did not contain the elaborate quotation attached to Kana’s image. Repetition across fan pages does not turn an unattributed caption into a player statement.
Why the image resonated
The photograph compressed several ideas into one frame: the intergenerational reach of football, Messi’s unusually long international career and the energy of a supporter nearing 100. It also gave tournament coverage a warm counterpoint to arguments about results and refereeing.
The best version of the story does not need an invented quote or a “completely unmanufactured” claim. Kana really attended, really supported Messi and really had a long online history that explains why she knew how to make a memorable sign.
Bottom line
Pauline Kana was a genuine spectator and Messi supporter, but not an unknown woman suddenly discovered by the internet. She was 99 and approaching 100, already known as Gangster Granny, and experienced at creating viral moments with her grandson. Those facts make the story more interesting—not less.
Sources
- beIN Sports: Kana at the World Cup and her online background
- Le Parisien: Argentina-Austria appearance
- Guinness-record coverage and August 1926 birth information
- Lead Stories: fact-check of fabricated Messi quotation
Correction note: The original brief called Kana 100 and described the moment as entirely unmanufactured. This revision states her documented age and existing influencer career.
Edin Pula
Edin Pula is the editor responsible for reviewing and publishing content at Smashology Media. He oversees sourcing, fact-checking, corrections, and editorial standards across coverage of internet culture, technology, entertainment, news, and crime.
