Cristian Ronaldo, widely considered one of the greatest soccer players to ever lace up the boots, has partnered with cryptocurrency exchange Binance, to launch an NFT collection as part of an exclusive multi-year deal with the exchange.
The collection will reportedly include seven animated statue NFTs depicting various pivotal moments in Ronaldo’s life and career, ranging from important events in his childhood in Portugal through to his most iconic footballing feats.
Collection to Introduce Fans to Web3
Binance Co-Founder He Yi said collaborations with high-profile figures like Ronaldo would help bring more people into Web3:
“We believe the metaverse and blockchain are the future of the internet…We are honored to collaborate with Cristiano to help more people understand blockchain and showcase how we are building Web3 infrastructure for the sports and entertainment industry.”
He Yi, Binance
Since it launched in mid-2021, Binance’s NFT marketplace has sought to feature high-profile creators, with some of its earliest collections from popular musician Lewis Capaldi, and professional football stars Michael Owen and Alphonso Davies.
From Ronaldo’s perspective the collection is more about rewarding his loyal fans and thanking them for their years of support:
“It was important to me that we created something memorable and unique for my fans as they are such a big part of my success…With Binance, I was able to make something that not only captures the passion of the game but rewards fans for all the years of support.”
Cristiano Ronaldo
NFTs Include Additional Perks
The collection will include NFTs of four different rarity levels, from super super rare (SSR), through to normal (N). Depending on the rarity level of the NFT, buyers may receive additional perks such as:
- A personal message from Ronaldo
- Merchandise autographed by Ronaldo
- Guaranteed access to future Ronaldo NFT collections
- Complimentary mystery boxes for future Ronaldo NFT collections
- Entry into giveaways for signed merchandise and other prizes
Ronaldo’s first NFT collection will launch at 9am UTC on November 18 and will be available only to Binance users. Subsequent Ronaldo NFT collections are planned to launch through Binance starting in 2023.
Engaging sports fans has been a popular application of NFTs, with collections released by the US National Basketball Association (NBA) and Australia’s AFL code this year.