Argentina’s World Cup comeback has a crypto subplot most fans missed

Argentina pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent World Cup history on July 7, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16.

After the final whistle at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, teammate Lautaro Martinez delivered a message that resonated far beyond the pitch. He urged the 39-year-old Messi to savor what is widely expected to be his last World Cup appearance.

The comeback that stopped the timeline

Argentina looked finished. Down two goals with the clock running out, they needed a miracle. They got three goals instead.

Messi scored the equalizer that brought the team back to life. Martinez provided an assist on one of the goals, and Enzo Fernandez delivered the winner that sent Argentina into the quarterfinals.

Messi’s deep ties to the crypto economy

His move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 included fan tokens as part of his welcome package, making global headlines and putting the concept of tokenized sports fandom on the map for millions of casual observers. The PSG fan token surged in value around his signing, a pattern that repeated across the sports token market as other clubs scrambled to replicate the model.

Beyond fan tokens, Messi has appeared in promotional campaigns for crypto platforms, lending his face to an industry that was, at the time, desperate for mainstream credibility.

Tokens associated with major football clubs saw enormous trading volumes during the 2022 World Cup cycle, then cratered alongside the broader crypto market downturn.

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