Lionel Messi walked onto the pitch as a substitute and still managed to be the headline. The 39-year-old captain scored in the 80th minute of Argentina’s 3-1 victory over Jordan on June 28, sealing the Albiceleste’s perfect run through Group J of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
That goal made Messi the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. His career World Cup tally now sits at 19.
The match and what comes next
Argentina’s group stage was about as dominant as it gets. Three wins, zero losses, nine points, top of Group J.
Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez also found the net against Jordan. The squad now faces Cabo Verde in the next round.
Messi’s crypto footprint is bigger than most realize
Back in 2022, Messi signed a multiyear deal with Socios.com valued at over $20 million. The partnership was designed to promote digital fan tokens, the blockchain-based assets that let supporters vote on minor club decisions and access exclusive content.
Messi also partnered with crypto exchange Bitget and serves as an ambassador for Sorare, the NFT-based fantasy sports platform.
No fresh token launches or NFT drops were announced in connection with the Jordan match.
Fan tokens and the Messi effect
Argentina’s official fan token, ARG, has seen trading volume spikes that correlate with Messi’s standout performances during this World Cup.
Socios.com has partnerships with dozens of major clubs and national teams worldwide. Messi’s involvement lends the entire category a layer of legitimacy it wouldn’t otherwise have.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

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