Lionel Messi is accustomed to bringing joys to millions of people and he did that once more with a touching gesture.

The Barcelona and Argentina star recently made a granddad’s day by thanking him for his support in noting down every goal he has scored for club and country.

Don Hernan, 100, likes to keep a track of the 34-year-old’s achievements in the old fashioned way with a pen and paper.

Lionel Messi (right) sent a heart-warming video message to one of his fans Don Herman (left)

Hernan went viral after his grandson Julian Mastrangelo (right) recorded him keeping stats

Hernan’s grandson Julian Mastrangelo made him go viral on TikTok by recording him doing so in a heart-warming moment.

Hernan is such a fan of Messi’s that after every Barcelona and Argentina game he misses he asks his grandson if the iconic No 10 has scored.

And following Argentina’s Copa America final triumph against rivals Brazil, captain Messi – who scored four goals during the tournament – sent a message to Hernan thanking him for stat-keeping.

‘Hello Hernan. Your story reached me,’ Messi said.

Messi scored four goals during the Copa America as he captained them to glory this month

‘It seems crazy to me that you have been recording my goals and in that way, and that is why I wanted to send you a big hug and thank you for what you do, for all your follow-up work.’

After watching Messi’s response, a teary-eyed Hernan responded: ‘I always followed you and I will follow you.

‘Until the end, I will walk behind you.’

Without doubt Hernan will have to add to that tally next season.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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