Argentinian soccer player Lionel Messi has teamed up with a digital currency company called Bit Get. Based in Singapore, the firm will allow fans of the Paris Saint-Germain team – which Messi plays for – to trade digital assets and explore the growing world of web3.
Lionel Messi Travels Deeper into the Crypto Space
Few details have been announced regarding the deal, though it has been signed ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup which is set to take place in Qatar. This will be Messi’s fifth appearance at the event. Gracy Chen – the managing director of Bit Get – explained in a recent interview:
We try to reflect the diversity and richness of our platform community in the partnerships we choose. We open web 3.0 to sports fans. They open the field to crypto traders. As the football World Cup approaches, Messi is to lead Argentina to new glory. We are honored to have such a force of nature collaborate with us.
Messi was also quick to throw his two cents into the mix, commenting:
I want to thank Bit Get for their enthusiasm in making me participate in the world of crypto. I trust that both parties can activate meaningful initiatives as well as in offering web 3.0 to the sports fans.
This isn’t the first time the soccer star has forayed into the world of digital currency. Last year in the late summer, the player announced that he was set to receive a portion of his salary in digital currency. He also formed a partnership with crypto platform Socios.com. Worth $20 million, the deal between both entities would see Messi promoting the enterprise on his social media pages and other mediums for the next three years.
Commenting on the situation, Messi said the following at the time the deal was formed:
Fans deserve to be recognized for their support. They deserve opportunities to influence the teams they love. Socios.com exists to enhance the fan experience, to enable fans to ‘be more.’ I’m proud to join Socios.com’s mission to create a more connected and rewarding future for fans around the world.
A Growing Trend?
Over the past few years, the worlds of sports and crypto have practically forged into one, and there is a thin line between the two as more athletes now serve as spokespeople for brands within the digital asset space. A big example comes in the form of Tom Brady, who has done several commercials for popular digital currency exchange FTX.
One of the most recent ads poked fun at the mining process. Viewers were treated to Brady shooting a flamethrower at a block of ice. Once the block was melted, a large bitcoin became visible for all to see. Brady has also served as an FTX brand ambassador since September of last year.
