Lionel Messi becomes first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches, and crypto fan tokens are paying attention

Lionel Messi, three days past his 39th birthday, came off the bench during Argentina’s 3-1 group-stage victory over Jordan and did what he’s been doing for two decades: something no one else has ever done. His free kick goal on June 27, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, made him the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.

The goal was his sixth of the 2026 tournament and his 19th in World Cup competition overall.

The record that seemed untouchable

The previous record for consecutive World Cup matches with a goal belonged to two legends: Just Fontaine and Jairzinho, each of whom managed six straight. Those streaks were set in 1958 and 1970, respectively, which means this particular record stood for over half a century.

Messi didn’t just match it. He broke it as a substitute. In a group-stage match. At 39 years old.

His World Cup journey started back in 2006. Earlier in the 2026 tournament, he had already broken the career World Cup goals record, cementing himself as the competition’s all-time leading scorer.

Why crypto cares about a soccer record

Messi is an ambassador for Socios.com, the platform that powers fan engagement through cryptocurrency tokens built on the Chiliz blockchain. The Argentine national team’s $ARG fan token has historically seen volume increases tied to Messi’s performances, particularly during high-profile matches.

Fan tokens give holders access to voting rights on minor team decisions, exclusive content, and other engagement perks. Trading volumes for $ARG and similar tokens tend to spike around major matches and then settle back down, creating a pattern that looks more like event-driven trading than long-term accumulation.

Fan tokens, NFTs, and the sports-crypto intersection

Socios.com has built partnerships across football, basketball, motorsport, and other leagues. The platform’s model ties the value of its tokens to ongoing fan engagement. While the broader NFT market cooled significantly from its 2021-2022 peaks, sports-specific digital collectibles have maintained a more stable, if smaller, audience.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.