Neymar Jr. stepped onto the pitch at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, earning his 130th cap for Brazil in their World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Norway.
His return to meaningful World Cup minutes, after being limited to a substitute appearance against Scotland earlier in the group stage, is already generating ripple effects across sports-linked token markets.
Neymar’s crypto history runs deep
Neymar spent over $1 million on two Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs back in January 2022, right at the absolute zenith of the NFT mania. Those purchases made him one of the highest-profile celebrity NFT collectors in the world. They also made him a cautionary tale when Bored Ape floor prices subsequently cratered.
Meme tokens inspired by the player, including Neymar Coin ($NEY) on Solana, exist in the wild. Trading volume on these tokens has historically been minimal, but major sporting events have a way of changing that calculus quickly.
