The names jumping into the NFT space just keep getting bigger. This time, it’s renowned footballer Cristiano Ronaldo who will partner with crypto exchange Binance to produce a series of sports-themed NFT collections.
The players
Cristiano Ronaldo is a globally-known name that needs no introduction. The Portuguese footballer (soccer for anyone reading this in North America) is a five-time Ballon D’or winner and a living legend in the sports world. His name and image are seen and known the world over, from football stadiums to the products he endorses.
Binance is one of the most influential cryptocurrency exchanges on the planet. Founded in 2017, it is the largest exchange in the world in terms of daily trading volume.
Ronaldo x Binance
Binance recently announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with Ronaldo. The collaboration will excite football and sports fans everywhere as it produces a series of NFT collections to be launched exclusively on Binance’s official NFT platform.
One of the aims of the partnership is to introduce soccer fans to Web3 and draw them into the expanding ecosystem. Binance hopes to leverage its already sizeable crypto exchange with the enormous popularity that comes with Ronaldo and his already solidified legacy.
Binance CEO and founder Changpeng Zhao (also known as “CZ”) noted Ronaldo’s successes in the soccer and wider sports world and stated that the hugely popular athlete has “transcended sport to become an icon in multiple industries.” He went on to state that, “[Ronaldo] has amassed one of the world’s most dedicated fan bases through his authenticity, talent, and charity work.”
Ronaldo and crypto
Ronaldo is anything but new to the world of crypto and NFTs. Back in March, Ronaldo was awarded crypto tokens for his achievements in soccer. He was given JUV tokens, the official fan token of Juventus F.C., for every senior career goal that he scored.
Of his partnership with Binance, the sports legend stated, “My relationship with the fans is very important to me, so the idea of bringing unprecedented experiences and access through this NFT platform is something that I wanted to be a part of. I know the fans are going to enjoy the collection as much as I do.”
Looking ahead
CZ added that the Binance team is excited to give Ronaldo fans “exclusive engagement opportunities to connect with Ronaldo” as they own pieces of the sports-themed NFT collections.
Binance also intends to build on its existing partnerships with the Brazilian Football Confederation, the Argentine Football Association, and pro sports clubs FC Porto (PT) and S.S. Lazio (IT), all of which are juggernauts among professional soccer leagues.
Despite the current state of crypto and NFTs, CZ remains positive. He noted that he has dealt with conditions like these before and that the team at Binance is adept at successfully moving through a bear market in the crypto space.
The first NFT collection from this partnership will debut later this year and will feature iconic designs created in collaboration with Ronaldo. Registered Binance users in select countries will have the ability to buy the NFTs using Binance Pay.
