Five goals at a World Cup should move the needle. For Newcastle United forwards Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa, their performances in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have completely rewritten the narrative around two players who looked like expensive busts just months ago. But in the parallel universe of sports-adjacent crypto, the market response has been notably quieter.
Newcastle spent roughly £110 million in the summer 2025 transfer window, bringing in both players with sky-high expectations. What the club got instead was a combined one goal across 51 Premier League appearances.
From flops to World Cup stars
Elanga bagged two goals for Sweden, including a standout strike against Japan. Wissa scored three goals for the Democratic Republic of Congo, netting DR Congo’s first-ever goal at a World Cup finals in a match against Portugal.
Newcastle’s crypto play and the BYDFi deal
