The 10 most expensive football trading cards ever sold

Football might be the world’s most popular sport, but in the world of collectibles, it’s only in the past few years that football trading cards have started to rival those from sports like American football, basketball and baseball. With increasing global demand and the rise of modern sets from Panini and Topps, football cards have surged in both popularity and value.

In this guide, we break down the top 10 most expensive soccer trading cards ever sold, highlighting the players, rarity, and record-breaking sale prices that made them iconic. All prices are correct at the time of sale in British Pounds and US Dollars.

And before you comment, yes we know a couple of stickers have snuck into the list! But we can’t overlook anything Maradona (or Ronaldo) related, can we?

10. 2016 Panini Flawless Momentous Ruby Cristiano Ronaldo Patch Auto #M-CR7 (/15)

• Sale Date: June 2021

• Auction House: PWCC Marketplace

• Sale Price: $53,850

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £38,772

This limited-edition card features a patch and autograph of Cristiano Ronaldo during his tenure at Real Madrid. Its rarity and the player’s global appeal contributed to its significant value.

9. 2004-05 Mundi Cromo Liga Lionel Messi Rookie Card #617

• Sale Date: April 2021

• Auction House: Goldin Auctions

• Sale Price: $57,600

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £41,472​

Depicting a young Messi in Barcelona’s kit, this rookie card is a favorite among collectors, marking the early days of one of football’s greatest talents.

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8. 2014 Panini Prizm Lionel Messi World Cup Green Crystal Prizm #12

• Sale Date: March 2021

• Auction House: Goldin Auctions

• Sale Price: $61,200

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £44,064​

This card captures Messi’s participation in the 2014 World Cup, with its limited print run and unique design enhancing its desirability.

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7. 2002-03 Panini Futebol Portugal Stickers Cristiano Ronaldo Rookie #306

• Sale Date: April 2021

• Auction House: Goldin Auctions

• Sale Price: $98,400

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £70,848​

Showcasing Ronaldo during his early days at Sporting CP, this sticker is a rare find, especially in top-grade condition.

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6. 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Kylian Mbappé Gold Prizm Rookie Card #80

• Sale Date: August 2020

• Auction House: Goldin Auctions

• Sale Price: $121,200

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £91,704

Celebrating Mbappé’s breakout performance in the 2018 World Cup, this gold parallel card is limited to just 10 copies, making it highly sought after.

5. 1977 Futbol Diego Maradona Rookie Card #11

• Sale Date: March 2021

• Auction House: Goldin Auctions

• Sale Price: $157,200

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £113,184​

This card marks the debut of the legendary Maradona, with its scarcity and the player’s iconic status driving its value.

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4. 2019-20 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Red Refractors Erling Haaland Rookie Card #72

• Sale Date: August 2021

• Auction House: Goldin Auctions

• Sale Price: $170,400

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £123,696​

Featuring Haaland during his time at Borussia Dortmund, this card is limited to 10 copies, capturing the early career of the rising star.

3. 2002-03 Panini Futebol Portugal Mega Craques Cristiano Ronaldo Rookie Card #137

• Sale Date: April 2021

• Auction House: Goldin Auctions

• Sale Price: $230,400

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £165,888​

This card showcases Ronaldo’s early days at Sporting CP, with its rarity and the player’s subsequent success making it a valuable collectible.

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2. 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks Messi Rookie Card #71

• Sale Date: June 2021

• Auction House: Goldin Auctions

• Sale Price: $336,000

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £241,920​

Widely regarded as Messi’s most coveted rookie card, its limited availability and the player’s legendary status contribute to its high value.

1. 1958 Alifabolaget Pelé Rookie Card #635

• Sale Date: May 2021

• Auction House: Heritage Auctions

• Sale Price: $372,000

• GBP Equivalent at Time of Sale: £267,840​

This card features a young Pelé and is considered the holy grail for football card collectors, reflecting the player’s immense impact on the sport.

Why these cards matter

While the sports card market has seen explosive growth across all categories, the rise of football (soccer) cards has been particularly pleasing to see as an Englishman and football fan.

These top sales highlight the increasing value placed on iconic players, rare parallels, and vintage issues. Cards of legends like Pelé, Maradona, Messi, and Ronaldo will likely continue to rise as the market matures, and modern stars like Haaland and Mbappé are already following closely behind.

Whether you’re a collector, investor, or just curious about the hobby’s biggest headlines, these sales show that football cards are now firmly part of the high-stakes world of trading card collecting.