Lionel Messi reaches third World Cup final as prediction markets explode with billions in volume

Lionel Messi reaches third World Cup final as prediction markets explode with billions in volume, showing how betting markets tied to crypto have surged even though the tournament itself has no crypto partners. The article says Messi became only the second player to reach three FIFA World Cup finals, and he will start as the oldest outfield player. It places the 2026 World Cup final for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, with Argentina facing Spain. While no official crypto sponsorships, NFT integrations, or blockchain ticketing partnerships were reported for the tournament, trading on prediction platforms Polymarket and Kalshi has exceeded $4.2 billion in cumulative volume for World Cup markets, with the final alone estimated to generate between $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion. It also links Messi’s deal with Socios.com, valued at over $20 million, to the Chiliz blockchain and fan tokens such as Argentina’s $ARG, while noting the broader fan-token market sits around $3.8 billion in market capitalization.