The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first ever with 48 teams, is quietly becoming one of the most consequential events for crypto-adjacent industries like sports betting, fan tokens, and prediction markets. And the Round of 16 best XI just dropped, featuring a 39-year-old Lionel Messi leading the tournament in goals and assists. The internet, predictably, lost its mind.

The Touchline, a popular football analytics account, published its selection on July 8, highlighting standout performers from the knockout stage. The picks included some expected names and some genuine surprises, with Pau Cubarsí and Azzedine Ounahi earning spots alongside more established stars. Perhaps more notable than who made the list: Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo were both left off.

Why a World Cup best XI matters for crypto markets

Fan tokens for national teams have historically seen massive volume spikes during major tournaments. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar proved that correlation decisively, with tokens tied to Argentina, Brazil, and Portugal seeing triple-digit percentage swings during knockout rounds.

With 48 teams instead of 32, there are more matches, more upsets, and more opportunities for prediction markets built on blockchain infrastructure to capture volume. The Round of 16 is the first knockout stage in this new format, meaning every match carries elimination stakes for the first time in the tournament.

Messi’s continued dominance at age 39 is particularly relevant here. Argentina advanced past Egypt in the Round of 16, and their run deeper into the bracket could drive significant activity across fan token platforms and decentralized prediction markets.

The selection and its surprises

The Touchline’s best XI follows a pattern of knockout-round analysis. The account previously published a Round of 32 best XI on July 4 and a group-stage selection on June 28, building a running narrative of individual performances across the tournament.

Messi’s inclusion was the headline, but the supporting cast tells a more interesting story. Cubarsí, the young Barcelona defender, has emerged as one of the tournament’s breakout stars. Ounahi, who first caught global attention at the 2022 World Cup with Morocco, earned recognition again for his midfield performances.

The matchups themselves have been compelling. Brazil versus Norway and Mexico against England were among the Round of 16 fixtures that captured global attention, blending traditional football powerhouses with nations benefiting from the expanded format’s lower barrier to entry.

The intersection of sports, betting, and blockchain

The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, three countries with rapidly evolving regulatory frameworks for both sports betting and digital assets. The US alone has seen its legal sports betting market expand dramatically since the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling, and crypto-native platforms like Polymarket and Azuro have carved out niches in prediction and sports betting markets.