Soccer (sure, ‘football’ to most of the world) is a sport that has captured the hearts of billions around the world. The estimate is that nearly half of the world follows soccer, at least every four years when World Cup fever takes over. The sport's rich history and diverse player base have led to the popularity of soccer trading cards, which are starting to increase in value more than ever in the history of the sport. That’s appropriate for a growing sport because sports cards enable fans to build personal connections with their favorite players and teams, which then drives up prices for the best cards. While all trading cards and lots of collectible categories had a value spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, soccer cards received some of the largest increases in monetary value. In 2022, we even saw a card featuring one of the sport’s most iconic players break through the $1,000,000 mark for the first time and the hobby shows no signs of slowing down.
To survey this growth, we’ll review the 20 most expensive soccer cards ever sold, with each entry described in some detail below. Please note that we’re only listing official sports cards and stickers, and only one copy of each so we can get a broader view of the most valuable soccer cards ever. From Pelé's 1958 Alifabolaget rookie card to Lionel Messi's brilliant 2014 World Cup card, these collectibles represent more than half-century of the hobby and the most sought-after soccer cards available. Okay, let’s go!
The 20 Most Expensive Soccer Cards Ever Sold
Remember that you can track your soccer cards collection, check trending prices, and even set up Watchlists for key cards on Cardbase and in the Cardbase App. You can even find bargains on the Hot Deals sections of each card’s page. This is an ideal way to find the cards you want at the best prices because Cardbase draws from dozens of online marketplaces to show you what’s available across the Internet.
20) 1978 Crack Campeonato Mundial Diego Maradona #AR10 — $110,400
These days when people talk about the Argentinian soccer super star, you know they’re talking about Lionel Messi. But before Messi lit things up for Argentina, there was “The Golden Boy”, Diego Maradona. Sports Illustrated named him the greatest footballer/soccer player of all time, topping even the incomparable Pelé. That’s an editorial decision primarily based on the truly exceptional 1986 World Cup, where the mighty Maradona made a couple of shocking goals and led Argentina to the win. It is hard to deny this was one of the greatest victories in soccer history. Although Maradona didn’t repeat that feat, he still had an impressive career for many years following his big win over England. He passed away in 2020, still a beloved sports hero in his native Argentina.
We’ll see more of Diego further up the list but this second-year Maradona card is quite rare and none of them have been graded in the top echelon of PSA’s standards per their database. Thus, this PSA 6 EX-MT copy sold for a considerable $110,400 in June 2021 despite not being a rookie card.
19) 2004 Panini Stickers Colecciones Este Rookie Lionel Messi– $120,000
This Panini sticker set is an adhesive version of a rookie card for the Argentinian superstar, Lionel Messi. His storied career spans twenty years of ups and downs, with countless accolades and setbacks until he finally claimed a World Cup in 2022. This sticker set shows a fresh-faced Messi in his first days at FC Barcelona. Panini is more focused on super-premium cards these days, but it’s fun to see the simple collectibles they used to produce earlier in their printing history.
A PSA 10 Gem Mint copy of this 2004 soccer sticker set was sold in January 2022 for an amazing $120,000. Who knows how much more valuable these cards will become in the days ahead as Messi enters the final stage of his soccer career. I expect we’ll still see the value of his collectibles rise as his place in the history of the sport is secured.
18) 2002 Panini Futebol Portugal Stickers Cristiano Ronaldo #306 - $138,000
2002 Panini Futebol Portugal Stickers Cristiano Ronaldo #306 is another sticker entry from a series that was distributed during the World Cup 2002, this time featuring the powerhouse Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo. While not a traditional sports card, the enduring popularity of the phenomenal Ronaldo has allowed more than a few of these stickers to sell for huge amounts of money. The image is classic Cristiano Ronaldo, showing him looking sullen as he often does on the pitch. His fans never mind because he always focuses that rage into goals.
BGS and PSA have both happily graded copies of these stickers by their normal standards for traditional sports cards. This perfect copy, graded a PSA 10 Gem Mint, sold for $138,000 in December 2021. That price broke the previous record of $120,000, which was for a BGS 10 Pristine copy. Maybe it’s easier to preserve those edges on a sticker?
17) 2022 FIFA World Cup Sticker Black Border Lionel Messi 1/1 #ARG20- $139,200
Yes, more stickers. This is not a traditional card either but since it’s recent and it sold for a considerable sum, it’s on the list. This 2022 Panini World Cup Sticker of Lionel Messi was likely pulled from a retail sticker product, making it an unlikely candidate for such a high value. There are some key design elements that probably helped make it sell for so much money. The card lists that it’s a 1/1, the black border design is the type we collectors love, and the fact that it commemorates Messi's outstanding performance in Qatar made it desirable all around.
Of course, PSA happily graded it a PSA 8 NM-MT and someone bought it for $139,200. Not bad for what was probably a minimal cost pack of World Cup promotional material.
16) 2020 Topps Inception UCL Dual Autographs Gold Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo Dual Signed Card 1/1- $147,600
We all love the drama of a little rivalry in our sports. While both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will tell you that their ‘conflict’ is mostly media hype, it’s easy to see how the two best players of their generation would be a little competitive. Thus, there have been a few different cards issued that have had fun with their rivalry by featuring them both. This 2020 Topps Dual Autographs card does that and keeps it limited to a single copy.
That’s a shame because it’s a lovely card, with a thoughtful Messi up top and a typically confrontational Ronaldo shown below, both among a colorful and abstract background. This excellent card perfectly captures these two impressive players alongside their signatures and I’m sure plenty of collectors would love a copy. The single card was only graded a PSA 9 Mint, but that didn’t stop someone from paying almost $150,000 for it in April 2022.
15) 2022 Panini Prizm World Cup Black Prizm Lionel Messi #7 1/1 - $159,584
When the great Lionel Messi finally got his World Cup victory at Qatar’s 2022 event, it was a great celebration that transcended borders and rivalries. That part of why this most recent card on the list skyrocketed in price. Of course, this is also a Panini Prizm Black Prizm, of which there is only one copy from Panini’s Prizm World Cup series. Plus, this is probably the final World Cup appearance that Lionel Messi will make so he probably won’t be in a future 2026 set.
All of that pent up excitement to see him hit this milestone probably is how this PSA 9 Mint card was bid up to almost $160,000. The fact that it’s a terrific-looking card that shows Messi in motion on the pitch also helped drive up the amount of money people would pay. The good news is that if you can’t afford to pay the much higher price this card will go for next time it sells, don’t worry. There are a lot of parallels in a rainbow and a half worth of colors and variants as well as the base card of 2022 Panini Prizm World Cup #7 Lionel Messi available in larger quantities and at much lower prices.
14. 1958 Tupinamba Ltda. Colecao Quigol Pelé #109 — $180,000
This is the first appearance of the great Pelé on this list but it won’t be the last. When Brazil won the World Cup in 1958, there was a flurry of additional activity to celebrate the victory and Pelé’s many accomplishments that helped them get there. This 1958 Tupinamba Ltda. Colecao Quigol card of Pelé was a big part of celebrating his success in that most important match. Pelé was dominant throughout the contest, scoring 5 goals across the semifinals and finals, definitely leading the charge for the Brazilian team.
This is another non-standard sized card, but it still looks top-notch with a smiling Pelé shown as if he were printed on a soccer ball. All of Pelé’s cards have been escalating in value for the last few years, perhaps in response to the enormous prices on recent cards featuring current stars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.
Whatever the case, a new and massively increased price for this card was established in January 2021 when a PSA 8 Near Mint copy was sold for $180,000. As a collector and an investor, it’s really good to see that these older classic cards are also rising along with the flashier modern cards with relics, signatures, and super-limited editions. This is a special piece of history and it’s definitely worth adding to a collection that celebrates the man who was the global face of soccer for decades.
13. 2019 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Erling Haaland Superfractor 1/1 #74— $181,200
Already a soccer phenomenon at 22 years of age, the young Norwegian superstar striker Erling Haaland is featured a few times on the list because of his potential to be another legendary player. His exceptional athleticism and intensity have won over fans across the various clubs he’s enabled to raise their game. Manchester City is certainly making great use of his skills and thrilling the fans there.
This is also a one-of-a-kind Superfractor from the Topps Chrome UCL set, which also helps explain why prices have spiked for Erling Haaland’s cards. Although only graded as a PSA 9 Mint copy, the card sold for a massive $181,200 in August 2021. The buyer was betting on Erling Haaland continuing to deliver huge numbers on the field, and I expect that he will continue to perform and see his card valuations soar. The base card of 2019 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League #74 Erling Haaland and other variations are also valuable but still kind of affordable.
12. 1957 Oliveira & Benassi Balas Equipe Pelé #54 Rookie Card— $182,400
The remarkable Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. The Brazilian superstar won three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970), a feat that remains unmatched to this day. Known for his remarkable scoring ability and clever on-field play, Pelé was such an iconic player, he was featured in a movie “Escape to Victory” about a soccer team escaping captivity during WWII.
That his rookie card should rank so high despite being graded in PSA 1.5 Fair condition is a testament to his immense position in the sport. Per the grader’s database, this is the only copy they’ve ever graded, which certainly adds to its exclusivity. The sticker card actually depicts Pelé when he was just 16 years old during his debut with the Brazilian national team. This truly priceless card sold in December 2020 for a stunning $182,400.
11. 1977 Futbol Discs Diego Armando Maradona #11 — $192,000
Diego Armando Maradona was an Argentine football legend considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His technical skills, agility, and ability to create scoring opportunities made him a powerful force on the pitch.
Maradona played for various top clubs in Europe, including Barcelona and Napoli, but his most iconic moment came in the 1986 World Cup, where he led Argentina to victory and scored the infamous "Hand of God" goal and the "Goal of the Century" against England, cementing his legacy in football history. Few other players have specific goals with names.
The 1977 Futbol Maradona disc card is recognized as one of his earliest cards and considered a rookie card. In March 2021, a PSA 7 Near Mint copy of the card sold for an impressive $157,200.
10. 2021 Topps Chrome UEFA Erling Haaland Superfractor 1/1 Auto - $200,000
Another Erling Haaland Superfractor that has shot up in price due to his immense potential for the future. Haaland continues to show remarkable goal-scoring ability, impressive speed, and a powerful physicality on the pitch, which has positioned him as one of the most promising talents in modern football. Plus, as mentioned before, there’s only one of these cards (but there is also an affordable base card of 2021 Topps UEFA Champions League #1 Erling Haaland).
The card features a signature that isn’t the best-looking ever committed to cardboard, but pro grader BGS has rated it a perfect 10 so it’s legitimate. The BGS 9 Mint card sold in June 2023 for about $200,000. Haaland’s cards are a great investment and all suggestions point to their continued rise in value.
9. 1958 Americana Futebol Pelé Rookie Card - $204,000
The legendary Pelé is all over this list of the most expensive soccer cards, even with unusual, unnumbered cards like this early one from 1958. This shows that the collector and investor worlds still recognize this iconic player as the best of the best. Pelé is shown on this card with an enthusiastic smile, perhaps seeing the near future when he would help Brazil triumph in the 1958 World Cup. Throughout soccer’s biggest contest that year, Pelé was dominant with six goals scored across the various matches. These small cards were hand cut and printed for the purpose of celebrating the World Cup victory. Few have survived the years and PSA claims this is the highest rated copy in their database.
This PSA 6 EX-MT copy sold for about $204,000 in August 2022, just a few months before the world lost Pelé at 82 years of age. RIP to the legend!
8. 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Erling Haaland Superfractor 1/1 #91— $210,330
Despite being the youngest player featured on this list, Erling Haaland claims a couple of spots in the upper echelon of this list of the most expensive soccer cards ever sold. The Norwegian sensation currently plays as a striker for Manchester City and the Norway national team, but most of his most valuable cards are currently from his time with the Bundesliga. Erling is considered one of the best players in the world, known for his speed, strength, and ability to deliver inside the box. Just a few years into his pro bowl play and at just 22 years of age, he’s accomplished many records, including scoring 32 goals in only 28 games in the Premier League, and becoming the fastest player to reach 15 goals in the English Premier League.
His 2019 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League card is a single-card issue superfractor and Haaland is shown in his FC Salzburg reds. The copy Topps produced was graded in BGS 9.5 Gem Mint condition and sold in September 2021 for $210,330.
7. 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Gold Prizm Kylian Mbappé /10 #80—$216,000
French football prodigy Kylian Mbappé has established himself as one soccer’s best attackers, combining blinding speed, exceptional ball control, and clinical finishing. Anyone who watched him flower in the 2018 World Cup and dominate the 2022 matches knows this is a player we will be talking about for a long time. Mbappé’s remarkable dribbling skills and spatial awareness enable him to penetrate the tightest defenses, and his one World Cup win (so far) and European Championship contributions have cemented his status as a global soccer superstar.
Kylian Mbappé’s cards were part of the spiking soccer card market that started to emerge in late 2020. Mbappé is just 24 years old but has already won a World Cup, becoming just the second teenager (the other being Pelé) to score a goal in a World Cup finals. His cards have lost a bit of their heat after he didn’t deliver France another World Cup win in 2022, but it’s not for his lack of trying. He even topped the winning team’s captain, Lionel Messi, in goals for the event (8, to Messi’s 7).
That said, this World Cup 2018 Gold Prizm card celebrating his big win that year was limited to 10 copies. In October 2021, a BGS 8.5 Near Mint-Mint+ graded copy sold for an impressive $161,130. But there are also other variations and an affordable base card of 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Kylian Mbappé #80. We can only expect Mbappé cards to keep rising in the years ahead because this exceptional player has a lot more goals in him.
6. 2003 Panini Sports Mega Craques Cristiano Ronaldo Rookie Card #137 — $312,000
Cristiano Ronaldo has consistently been one of the most dominating forces in soccer, especially across UEFA play. The Portuguese wonder is known for his powerhouse athleticism, precise goal scoring, and versatility on the field. He has a relentless work ethic and devotion to the game, only matched by his flamboyant off-pitch attitude. Ronaldo has a stack of trophies and awards for his individual and team achievements, five World Cup appearances, and yet, twenty years into his pro career, he’s recently signed to play for the Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr.
In October of 2021, after numerous recent sales with escalating prices, a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy of 2003 Panini Sports Mega Craques #137 Cristiano Ronaldo sold for $312,000. At this rate, we can expect more increases as Ronaldo remains an influential figure in the sport.
If you are a big Christiano Ronaldo fan or want to invest in his trading cards, check out our blog post about the Top 10 Cristiano Ronaldo Trading Cards To Buy Now
5. 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks Lionel Messi Rookie Card #71 — $336,000
The wonderful story of the 2022 World Cup was seeing the amazing Lionel Messi finally get the World Cup win that had eluded him for so long. It felt like the whole world was cheering for Messi, a player who has left an indelible mark on the sport after a long and loyal career playing for FC Barcelona and the Argentinian national team. He’s represented his national team in the World Cup a record-tying 5 times. Messi was named the FIFA world player of the year 5 times during his 19-year career. His well-deserved World Cup victory was after an exceptional career full of trophies and many records, including the Guinness World Record for most goals in a calendar year.
The record for his 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks Lionel Messi Rookie Card #71 was set in June 2021, when a PSA 10 Gem Mint graded copy of this Mega Cracks card for a whopping $336,000. There was a back-track later when another copy in similar condition sold for $264,000 in August 2021. While still a huge increase from the pricing just a few years earlier, we can expect Lionel Messi cards to keep rising in value, especially now that his career-capping World Cup victory is in the books. Moreover, Messi is now playing in US soccer, ready to earn the love of new fans who will surely help drive up those prices in the days ahead.
4. 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Autographs Superfractor Erling Haaland 1/1 #91 — $432,000
The 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga set includes the players and teams of Germany's top-tier soccer league, the Bundesliga. Erling Haaland rose to International prominence as part of Borussia Dortmund in this league and Topps made sure there were plenty of parallel versions of 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga #72 Erling Haaland to satisfy all the collectors and investors that see a bright future for the Norwegian striker.
The card’s a winner for sure, featuring an action shot of Erling Haaland on the field showing off his typically forceful and active style of play. While there are numerous color parallels that have sold for prices north of $100,000 that could fill out this list effectively, we’re just recognizing the biggest sale from the set.
This single-issue Autograph Superfractor was graded by BGS a 9.5 Gem Mint card with a perfect 10 authenticated autograph. The card was then sold in June 2021 for a staggering $432,000. Erling Haaland cards are definitely worth a look for investors, even if his potential has been priced into the rarest of cards. Many more out there deserve a review for investors and collectors who are in this hobby for the long haul.
3. 1957 Balas Futebol #11 Pelé Rookie Card—$486,000
As we get close to half a million dollar cards, we are back with superstar Pelé’s and what is believed to be the earliest trading card featuring the Brazilian legend. This copy from the 1957 Balas Futebol set is a tiny postage-stamp-sized card that is considered one of his many alternative rookie cards. A far cry from the detailed and standard-sized cards of modern sports card trading, this is nonetheless a priceless historical document of one of the greatest athletes in modern history.
Even before we lost Pelé in late 2022, this card was sold in February 2022 for $486,000, despite being graded just a 2 on the SGC scale. Despite all of the amazing players we see on the pitch these days, there’s still a lot of respect in the hobby for the immortal Pelé.
2. 2014 Panini Prizm World Cup Gold Prizm Lionel Messi #12 /10—$522,000
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil was one for the ages and, although they didn’t come out on top, the Argentine team put on an amazing performance highlighted by their favorite son, Lionel Messi. While it would be two more World Cups before Argentina would take the big prize again, finally giving Messi a trophy after five World Cup appearances, 2014’s World Cup launched a lot of additional cards, including the first and completely fantastic 2014 Panini Prizm World Cup set. While Messi has had some rough patches, he’s consistently been one of the finest players in history and it showed in the matchup with an indomitable German team. He didn’t pull off the victory that year, but considering he did most of the heavy lifting for the team himself, he still came out looking pretty amazing. He did take home the Golden Ball away despite losing 1-0 to Germany.
Messi’s 2014 Panini FIFA World Cup Brazil Prizm #12 Lionel Messi card from this set is hardly the only one to gain value, but it definitely is the most expensive of the lot. As with most Panini Prizm sets, there are parallels galore but the 10-card printing Gold Prizm are the most valuable of the series. The Lionel Messi card from the set perfectly captures the Messi we see on the field, always in the mix and on the attack. It’s the best card in the series and one of Messi’s finest, too.
There are only 10 of them, and the copy that set the pricing record was graded as a PSA 10 Gem Mint card before being sold for a whopping $522,000 in April 2022.
1. 1958 Alifabolaget Base Pelé Rookie Card #635—$1,330,000
Sports Illustrated may say that Brazilian superstar soccer player Pelé is the 2nd best soccer player of all time, but he’s on top of our list with the only soccer trading card to ever sell for more than $1,000,000. This card was produced by Alifabolaget, a Swedish company, in this non-standard size the same year that a youthful Pelé burst into the soccer world with his stunning performance at the 1958 World Cup. It's not just a piece of trading card history but also an important artifact of soccer history, capturing Pelé in the early days of a career that would see him become one of the greatest soccer players ever.
Pro grader PSA claims that only six copies of this card have been graded as high as a PSA 9 Mint condition. Moreover, they say that this the best condition PSA’s ever seen the card in. Considering the card is around 65 years old, we can believe it. The date for this sale shows that Pelé’s rookie cards commanded significant value even before the 2021 sports card boom during the COVID-19 pandemic. A PSA 9 Mint copy sold in October 2020 for a huge $288,000. Then, in March 2021, a PSA 8 Near Mint copy sold for $340,100. Following a late 2021 sale of another PSA 9 copy for $900,000, a new record, the same one from the October 2020 sale was re-sold for the record-breaking $1,330,000 in February 2022. Not a bad investment for holding a card for less than two years.
Now that we’ve laid the Brazilian star to rest, we can expect these rookie card values to continue to climb. We can only expect Pelé will be the one who breaks the $2 million price level, too. Only time will tell. We could see the continuing surge from Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, or even Cristiano Ronaldo. All of them are probably in line for further price increases as the popularity of the sport grows exponentially.
Soccer Cards Values Will Keep Growing
Soccer’s increased popularity has propelled soccer cards into a new level of value in the last few years. While our list of the most valuable soccer cards shows the humble beginnings of one-off and non-standard collectibles in the early days of Pele’s reign as one of the greats, it also shows where things are headed. Panini Prizm, Leaf, and Topps Chrome are giving fans what they want: More exclusives, more cards with relics, and special editions. These newer cards have transformed into substantial investment prospects, capturing the attention of both collectors and investors who comprehend the immense potential they possess.
In an era where soccer's influence knows no cultural or geographical bounds, the likelihood of witnessing further groundbreaking sales in the trading card market is exceedingly high. The soccer trading card market shows no signs of stagnation. As we witness the sport's evolution and the emergence of the next generation of soccer superstars, the road seems clear for sports cards. We’ll see higher valuations of older cards alongside rallying prices for newer, more elaborate collectible cards, too. As they say, this is a tide that will lift all boats, with surging prices for cards new and old. That offers collectors and investors alike a bright future for the value of their collections. Happy Collecting!
