On December 5th, legendary footballer Javier Mascherano signed a partnership with Alchemy Pay to become the company’s brand ambassador. The former Barcelona player and captain of the Argentine national team announced the news on Twitter, comparing his play on the field to Alchemy Pay’s goal of bridging Web2 and Web3:
Neither party disclosed the terms of the agreement. Alchemy Pay hopes Mascherano will be a well-known face for its Latin American outreach, one that seeks to introduce Mexico, Central America, and South America residents to the possibilities of cryptocurrency. As of now, the company has integrated its popular fiat-to-crypto on-ramp with wallets used in Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Colombia.
Together, Mascherano and Alchemy Pay have launched an “NFT Card” collection that rewards members of the Alchemy Pay community. Holders of the NFT Card tokens will receive Alchemy Pay discounts, possible Mascherano signed merchandise, future NFT airdrops, and invitations to Alchemy Pay events.
Alchemy Pay is well-known for its fiat-to-crypto NFT purchasing tool, wherein customers can use credit cards, debit cards, or bank transfers to purchase non-fungible tokens. So far, the company has integrated that tool with wallets that serve hundreds of millions of wallets, making it easy for customers to buy their favorite NFTs in an easy, understandable way.
Mascherano, for his part, is one of the best defensive midfielders of all time, having played for the some of the top clubs in the world. He is the player with the second-most appearances for the Argentine national team and was captain of the team between 2008 and 2011.
Athletes Get Involved in Web3
Javier Mascherano’s partnership with Alchemy Pay is big news, but he’s not the only athlete getting involved in Web3. For the past year, we’ve written countless articles about the top sports players in the world signing partnerships, launching NFT collections, and more. Here are three.
First, earlier this month, Manny Pacquiao announced he had signed a deal to become the brand ambassador and honorary chairman of two NFT companies: START Inc. and NFT One. Pacquiao said he made the move to prep more Filipinos for the up-and-coming Web3 industry.
Next, on December 6th, 2022, Scottie Pippen shared he was launching an NFT collection. Called the SP33 Collection, the NFT set will celebrate Pippen’s career in the NBA, along with the shoes he wore in-game. Collectors have the possibility of receiving many perks, including game-worn Pippen shoes.
Lastly, in November of 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo launched his first NFT collection titled “CR7.” The collection features many different rarity categories and is likely just the first of many projects the famed soccer player will create in Web3.
Mascherano’s partnership with Alchemy Pay could spell big things for cryptocurrency in Latin America, or, at least, that is Alchemy Pay’s hope. Given the rate at which athletes are diving into Web3, it wouldn’t be surprising to see another athlete entering the space before year’s end.