Lionel Messi, somehow still defying the laws of biology at 38, scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria on June 17, marking what might be the most Messi thing to ever happen in a World Cup. It was Argentina’s opening salvo in their title defense, and it reminded everyone, once again, that retirement is apparently just a concept the man refuses to acknowledge.
The GOAT’s crypto footprint
Messi’s connection to digital assets isn’t new or accidental. When he signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, a portion of his welcome package included $PSG fan tokens distributed through Socios.com. That deal marked one of the highest-profile intersections of professional sports and crypto, turning Messi into an unwitting ambassador for an entire asset class.
Argentina’s national team has its own $ARG fan token, and historically, the token’s price has moved in tandem with the team’s on-pitch fortunes. During previous World Cup cycles, the $ARG token exhibited notable volatility that correlated with the national team’s results. A win pushed prices up. A loss dragged them down.
Now, with Messi becoming the first player in history to feature in six FIFA World Cups, and earning his 200th international cap during this tournament, the attention economy around Argentina’s squad is at full throttle.
