Grandma's Surprising Message to Messi Goes Viral After Club World Cup Match

• Lionel Messi guided Inter Miami into the Club World Cup knockout rounds following a 2-2 tie against Palmeiras.
• The MLS team squandered their two-goal advantage and will now meet Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.
• Messi was playfully propositioned by a grandma fan who showed her proposal with a sign in the audience.

Lionel Messi captained Inter Miami through the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup and was greeted with a playful gesture from an elderly spectator in the audience.

Messi provided Inter Miami with an opportunity heading into their last group fixture following his decisive free-kick against Portuguese heavyweights FC Porto in the second match.

The squad led by Javier Mascherano took an early two-goal advantage against the Brazilian club Palmeiras but lost their lead in the last 10 minutes of the game, ending up with a 2-2 tie.

The outcome placed them in a challenging position for the knockout rounds since they will be up against Lionel Messi’s previous club and current European champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in the Round of 16.

Grandma suggests to Lionel Messi

In a clip posted on Instagram by the event’s broadcast partner, DAZN, an elderly woman sitting in the audience was spotted holding up a sign that read "Messi, will you marry me?" prior to the game.

The fan recognized as Pauline Kana, a 98-year-old great-grandmother, often appears in her grandson Ross Smith's amusing posts, particularly during sports events such as NFL games and WWE matches.

The amusing message garnered responses from fans who found everything about it hilarious.

@secureboy23 wrote:

Auntie should have brought a birthday cake instead for her son, Messi.

@HDhamo1 wrote:

Hahaha, perhaps if we went back 50 years.

@ablx10_ wrote:

“Antonella is getting angry.”

Messi rushed through the tunnel.

According to footage captured by DAZN cameras, Messi promptly headed for the tunnel right after the final whistle. He appeared visibly displeased and was muttering under his breath as he made his way off the field, clearly frustrated with the outcome of the game.

Miami might have faced Benfica if they had maintained their lead against Palmeiras, the team from the same league as FC Porto, whom they defeated in the subsequent game.

PSG was Messi’s previous club, where he played following his departure from Barcelona in 2021. He then moved to Miami in 2023 after spending two seasons with PSG. Notably, the team is led by Messi’s former coach, Luis Enrique.

Did Messi give Estevao the go-ahead?

At halftime, Messi exchanged jerseys with Palmeiras' young player William Estevão, as Miami led 1-0. The Brazilian youngster admired the Argentinian star and has often been likened to him.

The Chelsea-bound star has been one of the best players at the tournament, winning the man-of-the-match award in the first two matches against FC Porto and Al-Ahly.

At the conclusion of the match, as both teams advanced to the next stage, Estevão managed to obtain Uruguay striker Luis Suárez’s jersey.

Audience responds to Messi's play against Al-Ahly

.ng previously reported that fans reacted to Messi's performance vs Al-Ahly in the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Miami's goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari, was officially recognized as the match's standout player; however, the eight-time recipient of the Ballon d'Or award also put forth an impressive performance during the scoreless tie.