Argentine football star Lionel Messi has scored 5 goals at the 2026 World Cup, bringing his all-time World Cup goals total to 18, surpassing the 16-goal record set by German forward Miroslav Klose since 2014. Messi completed the overtake during the match against Austria; after the hat-trick, trading volume for Argentine fan token ARG surged to above $5 at one point.
Messi’s cumulative World Cup goals reach 18, surpassing Klose’s 16-goal record
According to reports, Messi’s goals in the 2026 World Cup group-stage match against Austria brought his career World Cup goal tally beyond Klose’s 16-goal record set after the 2014 World Cup in Germany; he then scored a hat-trick in the match against Algeria, bringing his cumulative World Cup goals to 18. Messi achieved this record at the age of 38 and across six World Cups. Mbappé (aged 27) currently has 14 career World Cup goals, with a gap of 4 goals between the two.
Argentine fan token $ARG: Trading volume for a time surged to above $5 after Messi’s hat-trick
According to reports, after Messi put on a hat-trick, trading volume for Argentine fan token ($ARG) surged to above $5 at one point. The way fan tokens work lies somewhere between loyalty programs and speculative assets: holders typically have voting rights on certain decisions for the team and can access exclusive content. The report said that Messi’s goals not only affect the wager amounts, but can also change the floor price of these continuously traded tokens, because there is a direct link between fan sentiment and the token market.
Kraken becomes the first official stablecoin exchange sponsor; Panini Blockchain releases NFTs
According to reports, FIFA has reached a partnership with Kraken, making Kraken the first official stablecoin exchange sponsor for the 2026 World Cup. In addition, Panini Blockchain released NFT card packs related to the 2026 World Cup around June 19, 2026. The report noted that crypto-related interactions around the 2026 World Cup are mainly focused on fans’ direct participation rather than tokens directly issued by teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
How exactly did Messi surpass Klose’s World Cup goals record?
According to reports, Messi’s goals in the 2026 World Cup group-stage match against Austria brought his career World Cup goals total beyond Klose’s World Cup historical record of 16 goals held since after 2014. After that, Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria, pushing his career World Cup goals to 18 (a total across six World Cups).
Does ARG fan token’s “surge to above $5” indicate an important market level?
According to reports, ARG’s trading volume surged to above $5 at one point after Messi’s hat-trick. The report did not provide $ARG ’s historical price benchmarks or long-term trend, so it cannot be determined whether $5 represents a significant percentage change relative to its historical average.
What regulatory risks do fan tokens face?
According to reports, fan tokens are in a regulatory gray area in many jurisdictions. If regulators determine they are closer to unregistered securities rather than loyalty rewards, the market could face a major pullback. This is an analyst opinion cited in the report and not an official regulatory statement by any agency.
