Lionel Messi and Pau Cubarsí have been named to the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s Team of the Week. Messi, who has served as a global ambassador for Socios.com since 2022 in a deal valued at over $20 million, remains the single most influential figure in the fan token economy. Every time he plays, trading volumes for Argentina’s $ARG fan token have historically spiked.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19, was always going to be a major catalyst for fan token activity. Kraken signed on as the tournament’s official crypto exchange partner, lending mainstream visibility to digital assets during the most-watched sporting event on Earth.
Messi made his tournament debut on June 17. Cubarsí was born on January 22, 2007, which means the Barcelona defender was literally a toddler when Messi was already winning Ballon d’Or trophies.
Argentina’s $ARG token operates on the Chiliz network, the blockchain purpose-built for sports fan engagement.
CHZ tells a different story
