Top 10 Rookie Football Cards to Invest in Before the FIFA Tournament
- SLAB-Z
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
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When it comes to soccer collectibles, few themes stand out more than rookie cards. They're the foundation of every serious collection and, more often than not, the most valuable cards in the modern sports marketplace. If you're asking yourself, what are the best soccer cards to collect, especially with the world's biggest FIFA event just around the corner? Well, we've got you covered.
Major international tournaments act as massive economic accelerators in the hobby. A single breakout performance or a tournament-winning goal can send a player’s rookie card market into the stratosphere. This is a curated list of the top 10 best soccer rookie cards to buy before the tournament kicks off—base cards and key optical targets that are worth your money.
10. 2022 Panini Prizm Premier League #90 Alejandro Garnacho RC
Garnacho’s explosive pace and flair have made him a fan favorite at the club level, and playing alongside a historic Argentina squad gives his cards an incredibly high ceiling on the international stage. His first true, pack-pulled premium Prizm asset is card #90 from the 2022-23 Premier League set. Raw copies change hands for roughly $3 to $5, while PSA 10 GEM MINT copies can be tracked down starting from $45.
9. 2022 Topps Chrome UEFA #135 Warren Zaïre-Emery RC
France enters every major tournament as a heavy favorite, and Warren Zaïre-Emery is the engine driving their next generation. The young midfield general has elite composure, and his 2022 Topps Chrome rookie card is incredibly stable. Base raw cards are accessible at around $5, whereas pristine PSA 10 gems are hovering around $40. Keep an eye out for numbered refractor parallels, which offer superb long-term growth potential.
8. 2022 Panini Select Serie A #85 Rasmus Højlund RC
Denmark frequently plays the role of the dangerous tournament dark horse, and Højlund is their primary target man. His definitive true rookie option from the Select umbrella is his #85 card from the 2022-23 Select Serie A checklist (featuring him in his Atalanta kit). Clean raw copies hover between $4 and $8, while PSA 10 gems are currently trading around $45, making this a low-risk, high-reward investment if Denmark makes a deep knockout run.
7. 2023 Topps Chrome UEFA #146 João Neves
Portugal boasts one of the deepest squads in the world, and João Neves is their brightest rising star in midfield. His 2023 Topps Chrome UEFA rookie card has seen steady volume increases over the last year. Raw entry fees sit around $3, and you can find clean PSA 10 copies for roughly $35, providing an incredibly affordable entry point for a player expected to log major minutes.
6. 2024 Topps Now MLS #107 Cavan Sullivan
The spotlight on USA soccer is brighter than ever. While Cavan Sullivan is a long-term developmental play, the hype surrounding the young prodigy will bleed heavily into the pre-tournament atmosphere. His definitive 2024 print-on-demand card marks his historic professional debut. Raw copies are highly accessible at $10 to $15, and PSA 10s sit right around $85.
5. 2021-22 Panini Donruss Road to Qatar #74 Jamal Musiala
Jamal Musiala is no longer just a prospect—he is Germany’s primary creative force. The "Road to Qatar" set is the specific Donruss release featuring Musiala's Optic chrome parallels under card #74. This remains one of the most liquid assets for a player of his tier, showing great market velocity. Clean raw cards are regularly targeted from $15 to $30, while premium PSA 10 copies command a premium, currently trading around $110 to $135.
4. 2020-21 Topps Chrome UEFA #68 Jude Bellingham RC
Jude Bellingham is a generational talent, and England is heavily tipped to lift the trophy. His 2020-21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League rookie card remains one of the most recognizable and stable modern soccer assets in the entire hobby. Base raw copies have settled nicely into a highly affordable $5 to $10 entry window, while true GEM MINT PSA 10 base copies are heavily traded on eBay between $90 and $115.
3. 2023 Panini Donruss Soccer #176 Endrick
Endrick’s "Rated Rookie" branding makes card #176 a high-volume target for speculative collectors. As a striker for the Brazilian national team, his cards often experience spikes in velocity. Collectors can find raw copies for cheap at $8 to $15, while PSA 10 bases can be snared for around $55 to $75.
2. 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga #72 Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland’s rookie cards remain the ultimate benchmark for modern pure goalscorers. With Norway back on the grand stage, the global demand for his 2019-20 Topps Chrome Bundesliga rookie card is ready to hit hyperdrive. It is a certified modern grail. Raw targets command $70, while the base PSA 10 is an essential, highly liquid addition to any portfolio, sitting at around $310.
1. 2024 Topps Chrome UEFA Euro #17 Lamine Yamal
The undisputed king of the modern soccer card market. Lamine Yamal has completely re-written the prospect meta, and his "National Debut" card from the mega-popular Euro set is the definitive chase asset of this generation. For the everyday investor, it is the single most exciting piece to own before the tournament kicks off. Raw copies trade around $25, and PSA 10 base copies are fiercely traded at around $245.
These top 10 best soccer cards to collect aren't just about nostalgia—they're about smart investing, spotting rookie cards worth money that will earn their place in your collection for decades. Keep your eye on the market; in a hobby driven by history and potential, these cards aren't just worth owning—they're worth holding onto.
This article is a part of our new Invest in Rookies Series, in which we explore markets and most valuable gems across all sports and types of collectibles.
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