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Lionel Messi, at 38 years old, just did something no footballer has ever done. He scored a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s 3-0 World Cup victory in Kansas City on June 16, becoming the first player in history to appear in six FIFA World Cups. His three goals brought his career World Cup tally to 16, tying Miroslav Klose’s all-time record for men’s World Cup goals.
What happened on the field
Messi, who lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022, put three past Algeria to record his first-ever World Cup hat-trick. Tying Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals is significant on its own. Klose set that mark across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. Messi has now matched it across six, a span that stretches back to Germany 2006.
Why crypto cares about a soccer game
Messi has served as an ambassador for Socios.com, the fan engagement platform built on the Chiliz blockchain. That partnership has reportedly been valued at over $20 million. Socios powers fan tokens for clubs and national teams, letting holders vote on minor team decisions and access exclusive content.
No new tokens were launched in connection with this specific match. But existing fan tokens tied to athletes and national teams have reportedly seen renewed interest and heightened visibility in the aftermath. When Messi signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, the PSG fan token surged. When Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, the Argentine Football Association fan token spiked.
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