Lisandro Martinez is confirmed to start for Argentina in their Round of 16 clash against Egypt on July 7, 2026, in Atlanta. The ARG fan token on the Chiliz blockchain has seen a significant spike in trading volume that tracks almost perfectly with Argentina’s World Cup momentum.
The defending champions topped Group J with a flawless 3-0-0 record and then survived a 3-2 extra-time thriller against Cape Verde in the round of 32. Every time they’ve delivered on the pitch, the ARG token has lit up on trading dashboards.
Martinez’s historic performance and the crypto ripple effect
Against Cape Verde, Martinez scored his first World Cup goal and provided an assist to Lionel Messi that measured 42.5 meters, the longest by an Argentine defender in 60 years of World Cup history. That made him the first Argentine defender since 1966 to both score and assist in a single World Cup match.
Martinez first appeared on the World Cup stage in 2022, when he was part of the squad that lifted the trophy in Qatar. In 2026, he’s gone from squad member to starter, and his performances alongside Cristian Romero at the back have given Argentina a defensive solidity that complements their attacking firepower.
