Elite Soccer Stars Investigated in Spain for Investor-Fuelled Crypto Fraud

A high-profile investigation is underway in Spain following allegations that a cryptocurrency project promoted by several elite footballers defrauded investors of more than $3.4 million.

The focus of the probe is Shirtum Europa SLU, a company that marketed NFTs linked to player image rights but vanished shortly after failing to deliver a functional platform.

The case, currently before the Fifth District Court of Barcelona, names six prominent players—including World Cup winners and former stars of Barcelona and Sevilla—Alejandro Gómez, Lucas Ocampos, Ivan Rakitić, Javier Saviola, Nico Pareja, and Alberto Moreno.

The athletes are accused of lending credibility to the project, despite Shirtum lacking a viable product.

Filed by 12 alleged victims and supported by expert testimony, including analysis from economist Prosper Lamothe, the complaint claims investors were misled by promises of exclusive digital assets and future returns.

Instead, they were left with tokens that had no practical use or market value. The case raises broader questions about accountability in celebrity-backed crypto ventures.

NFTs Marketed, Platform Abandoned Without Delivery

Shirtum marketed its $SHI token as the exclusive currency for purchasing NFTs tied to the personal brands of high-profile footballers, with some digital items priced at over $500.

Yet the platform failed to offer users any way to trade or withdraw their tokens, effectively trapping investor funds.

According to court filings, developers allegedly structured Shirtum’s operations across Spain and Andorra in an intentionally opaque way—aimed at minimising tax exposure and shielding the founders from legal responsibility.

Central figures in the venture include Argentine businessman David Rozencwaig and Catalan entrepreneurs Manel Ángel Torras, Marc Alberto Torras, and Manuel Morillas.

The project's credibility was amplified by the public involvement of several star players, who appeared as co-founders and faces of Shirtum’s promotional campaigns.

Among them, Papu Gómez is said to have played a pivotal role, personally recruiting other footballers to join and promote the platform.

Following the collapse of Shirtum, the complaint alleges, the players quietly removed any references to the project from their social media accounts.

In 2022, the company claimed its funds were wiped out in a cyberattack, though no official police report was ever filed.

Investigators now suspect the funds may have been misappropriated for personal use.

Global Football Stars Tied to Omegapro Promotions

Shirtum is far from the only crypto project to enlist the star power of professional footballers.

According to a separate investigation by El Diario, at least 20 current and former players are now facing legal action for their involvement in promoting Omegapro—an alleged global Ponzi scheme that reportedly raised over €3 billion from investors.

Omegapro lured participants with promises of 300% returns within 14 months and relied heavily on high-profile endorsements from football legends including Ronaldinho, Kaká, Luis Figo, Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Roberto Carlos, and Vinícius Jr. Legal teams representing victims argue that these celebrity endorsements were instrumental in establishing credibility and fuelling the scheme’s international reach.

Now, several of those athletes are under scrutiny for potentially misleading the public by lending their names to unregulated financial ventures.

Rising Crypto Scams Use Celebrities and AI Tricks

The Shirtum and Omegapro scandals reflect a broader—and increasingly sophisticated—trend in crypto fraud: the strategic use of celebrity endorsements to build trust and attract unsuspecting investors.

Experts warn that sports figures and influencers, whether complicit or simply careless, often blur the line between endorsing a product and actively participating in its promotion.

Their vast followings make them ideal tools for fraudsters looking to legitimise questionable projects.

A June 2025 report by crypto exchange Bitget underscores just how advanced these scams have become.

In 2024 alone, over $4.6 billion was lost to crypto-related fraud—a 24% increase from the previous year.

Nearly 40% of these cases involved deepfake technology, with scammers using AI-generated media to impersonate executives, forge documents, and fabricate entire identities.

Bitget CEO Gracy Chen emphasized that the rise of emotionally manipulative tactics combined with hyper-realistic visuals makes such scams increasingly difficult to detect.

Today’s fraudulent platforms often mimic legitimate ones, complete with gamified user experiences, fabricated audit certificates, and viral referral schemes.

Chen cautioned:

“Scams today aren’t amateur operations.”