Lionel Messi delivered again for Argentina. The 38-year-old star scored a crucial 84th-minute equalizer against Egypt in the Round of 16, sending the match to extra time.
The high-stakes game at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium immediately drew attention from the crypto trading world. This spotlight falls on "fan tokens," digital assets issued on platforms like Socios.com that give holders minor voting rights on team matters.
Messi has a historic partnership with Socios.com, making him one of the most prominent athletes to endorse such platforms. His involvement previously helped legitimize the fan token category and introduced millions of fans to blockchain-based assets.
Traders monitor these tokens during major tournaments. The speculative instruments are known for sharp price movements directly tied to on-pitch results. However, they carry significant risk due to thin liquidity compared to major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Argentina's fan token ecosystem is more developed than Egypt's, but star Mohamed Salah's global following means any deep run by Egypt could also generate significant market activity.