Cristiano Ronaldo has topped Alipay’s UEFA EURO 2020 Top Scorer rankings.
For the first time in history, the winners will also get a digital trophy that will be issued on a blockchain, as part of their prize package.
Despite the fact that Ronaldo played in only four games during the UEFA EURO 2020 series, the player was able to secure the top rank thanks to his five goals and one assist.
In second and third place, respectively, in the Alipay Top Scorer rating, are Czech striker Patrik Schick and French forward Karim Benzema.
While the UEFA Euro Top Scorer awards are not a new concept, these one-of-a-kind trophies are a symbol of the contemporary crypto-age in which we live.
The Top Scorer trophies awarded by Alipay are the first to make use of blockchain technology in this context. These top three scorers’ scoring records have now been permanently recorded on the AntChain blockchain, which is a distributed ledger technology.
Following the conclusion of the UEFA EURO 2020 final match, Ant Group Chairman and CEO Eric Jing commended Cristiano Ronaldo on his outstanding performance. He also shared his thoughts on possible future collaborations between AntChain and UEFA:
Jing continued, “Just as we have used blockchain technology to permanently preserve the wonderful scoring moments of top scorers such as him, we will continue to work with UEFA to explore innovative digital solutions that improve fans’ experiences while enjoying football.”
AntGroup is a bridge between cryptocurrency and culture
In order to bridge the gap between cryptocurrency and mainstream culture, AntGroup, the company behind AntChain and Alipay, is continuing to make significant strides. It was in June of this year that the group finalised a contract between the European Football Association (UEFA) and AntChain to promote blockchain technology in the football sector.
As a result, AntChain has been named the official worldwide blockchain partner of the UEFA Euro 2020 competition.
The AntChain blockchain is being used to produce the trophies designed by Alipay, Inc. Alipay, a subsidiary of AntGroup, is one of the world’s most popular payment and lifestyle platforms, with over 100 million users worldwide.
Alipay’s participation in one of Europe’s most prestigious sporting events is another move in the company’s recent history. In addition, the platform has introduced an in-app feature for the purchase of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Videos of the goal celebrations will be made into digital artefacts that will be stored at UEFA.
The use of blockchain technology in sports
There were several more ways blockchain and crypto technology were included into the UEFA EURO 2020 event this past weekend, in addition to Alipay’s Top Scorer award winning.
Prior to the Italy vs. England match, Giorgio Chiellini, the captain of the Italian national football team, unveiled his first NFT collection. The digital collectible made its debut on Blockasset, a new marketplace for digital assets. Blockasset hopes to produce further sports-related NFTs with other football and mixed martial arts athletes in the future.
Along with his digital collectible, which he has dubbed the “Gladiator,” Chiellini’s NFT also offers the winning bidder the opportunity to meet him in person for the first time. Additionally, many different hybridised versions of digital and physical NFTs have swept throughout the musical landscape.
The establishment of a fantasy football league via FootballCoin during the EURO 2020 football season marked the first step toward the development of a fantasy blockchain platform.
As a result of the increased blending of developing technology and sports culture into the game this season, it is expected to establish a precedent for the future of sports entertainment engagement exchanges.
