The iconic football club FC Barcelona launches “In a Way, Immortal” NFT, which is the first NFT in the club’s history celebrating the legendary Dutch player Johan Cruyff.
The ‘In a way, Immortal’ NFT is an audiovisual digital artwork depicting Johan Cruyff’s iconic goal against Miguel Reina of Atlético Madrid on December 22, 1973, when Cruyff “flew” through the air.
This legendary goal has been dubbed Le but impossible de Cruyff (Cruyff’s impossible goal). Actually ‘In a Way, Immortal’ is inspired by an iconic quote from Johan Cruyff.
The one-of-one animated edition of the Immortal NFT, along with four additional NFTs that will each include a still image from the animated version, will be up for auction at Sotheby’s in a hybrid online-live auction.
The bidding started on July 21 and will continue until the live auction at Sotheby’s New York on July 29. The buyer will have the option of paying with fiat money or a cryptocurrency like BTC, ETH, DOT, or USDC.
Online bidding will be open during the live auction for potential buyers who are located outside of New York.
Immortal retells Johan Cruyff’s legendary goal in poetic molten gold animation created by a 40-person team of Hollywood’s most talented CG and VFX artists.
The 40-second film is accompanied by an original soundtrack performed by a 30-piece orchestra, which includes authentic sounds from the Camp Nou stadium and FC Barcelona fans.
Cruyff’s digital sculpture required over a thousand working hours to complete, and the overall production required over 10,000 production hours.
The Immortal NFT was created in collaboration with BCN Visuals, a strategic innovation partner and Digital Superstudio that developed the NFT’s “cinematographic aesthetic.”
The World of Johan Cruyff’s involvement in the project made all of this possible. The World of Johan Cruyff pays tribute to the life and legacy of Johan Cruyff and it’s where all Johan’s organizations and initiatives come together.
The future owner of this NFT, who will be known as the Barça Digital Ambassador, will additionally have access to exclusive Club perks and experiences like training sessions.
The Barça Digital Ambassador will have access to several experiences including Meet & Greets, trips to La Masia, hospitality rights for a minimum of five years, the right to play at Spotify Camp Nou, and an official ball handover prior to a friendly match.
In March, FC Barcelona’s President revealed the club’s NFTs and Metaverse plans to overcome the ongoing financial crisis in the club. The Johan Cruyff NFT is one of the ten NFTs, which will be unveiled one at a time over the upcoming months, featuring iconic FC Barcelona characters and moments that further the Club’s legacy and historical heritage.
Johan Cruyff’s son Jordi Cruyff noted ‘’The NFT In a Way, Immortal will be forever linked to my father’s legacy. He would have been fascinated to see that one of his most beautiful goals with FC Barcelona has been the inspiration to create this unique piece of digital art that we hope will be enjoyed, admired, and remembered forever.”
ould have been fascinated to see that one of his most beautiful goals with FC Barcelona has been the inspiration to create this unique piece of digital art that we hope will be enjoyed, admired, and remembered forever.”
