Lionel Messi’s PSG Contract Includes Payment in Fan Tokens
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Lionel Messi’s PSG Contract Includes Payment in Fan Tokens

Football club Paris Saint Germain’s contract with Messi, one of the best ever to play the game, includes Socios fan tokens.

Lionel Messi’s PSG Contract Includes Payment in Fan Tokens

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Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Messi’s new contract with Paris Saint Germain includes payment in the club’s cryptocurrency fan token, $PSG.
Chiliz, which developed fan token-issuer Socios, said on an August 12 Medium post that, “a world first for such a high-profile signing, Leo Messi received a large number of ‘$PSG Fan Tokens.”

The number of PSG tokens Messi received was not revealed. He has signed a two-year deal with PSG, with the option of a third year. 

In March, it was announced that Juventus’s Cristiano Ronaldo — another one of the game’s greats — was possibly the first player to be paid in fan tokens, having been given some $JUV by the club.

The six-time winner of the Ballon d’Or for best player and European Golden Shoe for top scorer, was transferred by his longtime team, Barcelona, after Spanish soccer league La Liga’s fairness rules made his contract unaffordable under the team salary cap.

The PSG token spiked on the news, shooting from $30 to $49 within two days of the shocking deal’s announcement, before retreating somewhat to $39. But trade volume surged , jumping past $1.2 billion after the news of the trade was announced.

PSG Leading The Way

Paris Saint Germain was an early adopter of fan tokens in 2018, which give owners the right to vote on minor matters — choosing a message for the wall of PSG’s locker room, for example, or selecting the Goal of the Season. They also offer a way for teams to connect with fans and offer special rewards — like the possibility of a personal video call from top players. Lionel’s Barca was another team that adopted the Socios token.

Of course, it’s also a good way for teams to make money. Barca’s June 2020 initial sale of $BAR netted Messi’s then-club $1.3 million in just two hours. 

“Fully embracing Socios.com and $PSG Fan Tokens has proved a massive success for the Club,” said Marc Armstrong, chief partnerships officer of Paris Saint-Germain. “We have been able to engage with a new global audience, creating a significant digital revenue stream.”

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com, added: “Paris Saint-Germain are reaping the rewards of their bold approach and I believe this could be the start of a new trend as Fan Tokens and Socios.com play an increasingly prominent role across sport at the very highest level.”

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