Soccer Cards: The Top 5 Most Expensive Soccer Card Sales of All Time

By Eliud Alano June 18, 2024 15:15

credit. ebay

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with four billion fans worldwide. Beyond the field, this has transcended into a booming soccer card market, where soccer cards have become a hot commodity for sports memorabilia collectors. So let's bring you into the world of soccer card collecting as we take on the top five most expensive soccer cards ever.

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The Top 5

-1958 Alifabolaget Pele Rookie Card #635 - Sold on eBay Heritage Auctions, Sold for $372,000, May 2021

This card is a tribute to the grand career of the legendary Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pel, and his 3 world championships.

- 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks Lionel Messi Rookie Card #71- Sold $336,000 June 2021, Goldin Auctions

Known for his remarkable capabilities and a treasured piece of collectible, this card ages like a fine wine just like the generational talent himself: Lionel Messi. This is an extremely sparse card with only 20 PSA 10 copies out there.

-2002-03 Panini Futebol Portugal Mega Craques #137 CRISTIANO RONALDO Rookie Card - That one sold for $230,400 in April 2021 by Goldin Auctions.

This is a card representing the prime world-class footballer in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo as he was a Sporting CP player in the Primeira Liga.

- 2019-20 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Red Refractors Erling Haaland #72 - The card was sold in August 2021 for $170,400 by Goldin Auctions.

Aside from the fact this card shines bright on a young world sensation from the rise of Erling Haaland, at its roots, this was still something they wanted due to his booster status in the modern game.

- Diego Maradona Rookie Card #11 (Futbol; 1977) - Goldin Auctions, March 2021: $157,200

To celebrate the life of the late Diego Armando Maradona, this card is situated as an homage to one of the most talented footballers of all time, representing his knack and how influential he is throughout his playing career.

Locating the Rarest Soccer Cards

Soccer card values depend on many things - how good the player is, how rare the card is, the condition of the card, and the historical importance of the card. So how can you see which are the most expensive soccer cards?

Auction Houses & Online Platforms:

Follow major auction houses and online platforms that specialize in the sale of sports memorabilia. They regularly have odd Ballers and scarce valuable soccer cards for sale.

Professional Grading

Knowing how soccer cards are graded, such as the scale of the PSA or BGS, can give you better insights into the rarity and largely the condition of a card, which is a major determinant of its value.

Player Legacy and Accomplishments

Legendary players such as Pele, Messi, and Ronaldo usually have the most expensive cards because of their iconic status and large contribution to the sport.

Tracking the Market

Being aware of market trends is also a great source of what are the most valuable soccer cards at the moment within the soccer card market and opens up opportunities to buy when the prices are at their lowest.
In summary, the five priciest soccer cards of all time give a telling sign of the exploits of some of the best talent the sport has had, making them a must-have for enthusiasts and collectors.
Keep in the loop on soccer card collecting, and the hobby in general for the most current trends in the world of collecting by checking in with established auction platforms, grading services, and sports memorabilia news.