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Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann could launch an Invincibles cyryptocurrency or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) after securing the trademark of the tag ahead of the 20th anniversary.
Mail Sport revealed on Thursday that Lehmann, an ever-present in the Invincibles side of 2003-04, secured the branding rights in 2022 after filing an application in late 2020.
It means the German has the legal right to stop any other brand calling themselves ‘The Invincibles’ — including his former employers. Arsenal have not moved to contest the trademark.
‘I had the idea because the name Invincibles becomes more and more popular approaching the 20th anniversary,’ he told Mail Sport.
‘And nobody had it. Arsenal were probably a little surprised because nobody thought about having the brand name registered. At least they know it’s now being controlled.’
It has now transpired that Lehmann’s trademark covers the creation of a cryptocurrency and NFT tokens.
It also covers categories including computer software, clothing and footwear.
NFTs are the latest craze in the cryptocurrency world which has seen footballers past and present jump on the bandwagon, allowing them to make money from digital creations.
Though it has courted controversy, with NFTs promoted by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and John Terry having plummeted in value.
Ronaldo is facing a $1billion lawsuit over his role in promoting NFTs from cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
And former Chelsea captain Terry saw the ‘Ape Kids Football Club’ NFTs he launched crash in value by 99 per cent in five months.
The Blues icon had been advertising the NFTs he owns, featuring cartoons of baby monkeys, on his Twitter page.
In one NFT owned by the ex-England captain, a blue monkey – wearing a captain’s armband as Terry did 580 times for Chelsea – is surrounded by several trophies.
