The 35 Most Expensive Soccer Cards Ever Sold

Pelé is a three-time World Cup winner and is considered by many to be the best soccer player in history. At just 17 years old, he scored three goals for Brazil in a semifinal victory over France during the 1958 World Cup. 

Pelé was so dominant that the President of Brazil declared him a national treasure to prevent him from playing soccer in another country. 

He still holds 7 records that have yet to be broken, including being the youngest world cup winner, Brazil’s record goalscorer, and scoring the most hat-tricks in a career (92). Sports Illustrated ranked Pelé as the 2nd best soccer player in history. 

There are only six PSA 9s in the current registry for this card, with none graded higher. For us, this is the definitive soccer grail. 

Heritage Auctions sold a PSA 8.5 copy for $372,000 on May 6th, 2021. The image on the card depicts a 17-year-old Pelé at the 1958 World Cup in his Brazilian uniform. 

A record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi’s name is synonymous with other legendary athletes like Pelé and Ronaldinho. He’s etched his name in nearly every record book, and he completed his resume with a World Cup victory last fall. There’s not much more Messi could give to the pitch that he hasn’t already; when he hangs up his cleats, one of the greatest athletes ever will close the book on an unforgettable career.

The 2014 Prizm World Cup set is heavily regarded as the best modern soccer set. It features some of the first chrome cards for many players in their national team kits, including Messi shown above repping the Argentina colors. Limited to 10 copies, this card sold for a whopping $522,000 in April of 2022.

Pelé’s earliest trading card is shown above. No bigger than a stamp, this copy from the 1957 Balas Futebol set is one of many alternative rookie cards of the Brazilian legend. The iconic superstar passed away at the age of 22 last year, leaving behind an unprecedented legacy in the sporting world. Cards like these serve as a subtle yet powerful reminder of one of the most coveted athletes to ever live.

A card this small receiving an SGC 2 grade is certainly remarkable, which may be why it sold for $486,000 in February 2022.

Erling Haaland is just 21 years old but his 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Autographs Superfractor 1/1 BGS 9.5 holds the record for most expensive soccer trading card ever sold. In June of 2021, Goldin Auctions sold the card for $432,000:  

Sports Illustrated ranked Lionel Messi the 3rd best soccer player of all time and was named the FIFA world player of the year 5 times during his 19-year career. 

He’s played the majority of his career for FC Barcelona and the Argentinian national team but arrived in Paris this past August to finalize a move to PSG (Paris St.-Germain). 

Messi holds the Guinness World Record for most goals in a calendar year (91), set an all-time record of scoring in 21 consecutive games, and has been part of 4 Champions League Title-winning teams. 

This past June, Goldin Auctions sold a copy of the population 2020 Mega Cracks rookie card for a whopping $336,000. 

There are just 72 total graded copies of the Pelé Alifabolaget base rookie card and just 5 copies received a PSA 8 grade (with 10 copies graded higher). A copy of the card in a PSA 8 grade was sold in March 2021 on eBay via PWCC Marketplace for $340,100, a record sale for any soccer card sale on eBay at the time: 

Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the 15th best soccer player of all time by Sports Illustrated and is widely recognized as the 2nd best player in his generation (behind Lionel Messi). In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Ronaldo is globally famous, indicated by his Instagram account with 362 million followers. Ronaldo is 36 years old and currently plays for Manchester United as a forward. 

Ronaldo has accomplished a lot in his career, including winning the Men’s Ballon d’Or award (an award voted on by soccer journalists and given to the player who performed the best in the world over a 12-month period) 5 times. He also holds the record for the most goals and assists in the UEFA Champions League, most goals in the UEFA European Championship, and the Fifa World Cup. 

In October of 2021, Goldin Auctions sold a rookie Ronaldo Mega Craques in a PSA 10 grade for $312,000. There are just 38 PSA 10 copies in existence. 

With just 6 copies of this card in a PSA 9 grade (none graded higher), Pelé’s rookie card commanded significant value even before the 2021 sports card boom. Goldin Auctions sold a copy of this card in October 2020 for $288,000. Given the fact that a PSA 8.5 of this card sold for $372,000 in May of this year, it’s more than likely that if one of the very rare PSA 9 copies hit the market again, it might set a record for the most expensive soccer card ever sold. 

There are just 20 copies of Lionel Messi’s Mega Cracks rookie card graded a PSA 10 and despite selling for $336,000 in June of 2021, Goldin Auctions sold a copy of the card for $264,000 in August 2021.  

Despite the 21.4% decrease in value between the two sales, it’s important to remind ourselves just how much the soccer card market has grown in the past 2 years. In 2019, a PSA 10 copy of this card sold for $13,900. This represents a growth of 1,799% in just two years. 

Just 6 months before the record $312,000 Ronaldo Mega Cracks rookie card sale, Goldin Auctions sold a PSA 10 copy for $230,400 in April of 2021. 

In April of 2019, just two years earlier, this card sold for $2,400 on eBay via PWCC Auctions, representing 9,500% growth in that time period. 

Kylian Mbappe was the hobby darling as the soccer card market started to emerge in late 2020. Mbappe is just 24 years old but has already won a World Cup, becoming just the second teenager (behind Pelé) to score a goal in the World Cup finals. Furthermore, his unrelenting performance in last year’s World Cup indicate that Mbappe will be the biggest name in soccer for years to come.

Goldin Auctions sold a BGS 8.5 graded Gold Prizm out of 10 copies in October 2021 for $161,130. Mbappe is the second most popular modern player (behind Haaland) given his record card sales in 2020 and 2021. 

Despite being the youngest player featured in this list, Erling Haaland claims 2 spots in the top 10 most expensive soccer cards ever sold. His 2019 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League 1 of 1 Superfractor in a BGS 9.5 grade was sold by Goldin Auctions in September 2021 for $210,330. He’s still just 21 years old but has caught the soccer card market by storm. 

A second PSA 10 copy of Ronaldo’s 2003 Mega Craques rookie card was sold by Goldin Auctions in April 2021 but sold for about 11% less than its counterpart. Given the fact that copies of this card sold for just a few thousand dollars two years earlier, it’s not surprising that multiple copies of the card have sold in 2021. Despite an increase in the available supply of these cards on the market, no sale dropped below $204,000. 

Just 1 month after 2 copies of this card were sold for record prices (at the time) a 3rd copy hit the market and sold via Goldin Auctions for $204,000 in May 2021. Despite being repetitive, this sale is included on this list for a reason (apart from qualifying given its sale price). Even rare cards in a growing market experience price fluctuations — it’s clear that owners of this card were incentivized to send their copy off to auction given the high returns relative to their original purchase price. However, prices decreased (hitting a low of $156,000 in August 2021) as the card has been sold six times in 2021, compared to only two sales in 2020, and four sales in 2019. 

A card like this 1958 Americana Pelé is yet another that can detail the power of sports. An 18-year-old boy is pictured in the little square above, eager to contribute to his Brazil national squad. 65 years later, he’s an etched name in the lore of soccer, and all of us wish we had a couple of these small cards laying around.

This PSA 6 copy sold for over $200,000 in August of 2022.

Sports Illustrated crowned Diego Maradona the best soccer player in history. Maradona played professional soccer for 21 years, won 1 World Cup, was awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball for most outstanding finals performance in 1986 and scored what is often referred to as the greatest soccer goal in the history of the sport (even though it was technically an illegal shot). 

The 1977 Futbol Maradona disc card is recognized as one of his earliest cards and thus is considered a rookie card. A total of just 47 of these cards have been graded by PSA with just 6 copies receiving a grade of 7 and only 2 are graded higher (PSA 8). 

In March of 2021, Goldin Auctions sold a PSA 7 copy of the card for $157,200.

While it is not an officially licensed rookie card, Messi’s Newell’s Old Boys signed membership card may be the earliest alternative rookie card in existence for Lionel Messi, including his first autograph. It’s estimated that he was about 8 years old when the card was issued or signed. In October 2021 Goldin Auctions sold the card for $185,730.

According to PSA, there is just 1 copy of this card in graded condition. This is known as a sticker card and depicts Pelé when he was just 16-years-old when he made his debut for the Brazilian national team. Goldin Auctions sold the only graded copy of this card in December of 2020 for $182,400. 

This is the 3rd Erling Haaland Super Fractor 1/1 on this list and it comes from the Topps Chrome UCL set. Graded as a PSA 9, Goldin Auctions sold the card for $181,200 in August 2021. One benefit of Haaland’s age is that his cards have been produced in the modern era and therefore scarcity is built into 1 of 1 card like the one above. Players like Messi, Ronaldo, and Pelé (apart from his sticker rookie, which had multiple copies issued but only 1 made it to grading) do not have 1 of 1 rookie card examples due to the market not producing them a the time. 

Pelé won his first World Cup with Brazil in 1958, scoring 3 goals in the semifinals, followed by 2 goals in the final. The 1958 Tupinamba Pelé rookie card has a population of just 3 in a PSA 8 grade, with no copies graded higher. There are just 65 copies of the card graded in total. Goldin Auctions sold the card in January 2021 for $180,000. The last recorded sale of the card was in July of 2018 when it sold for $33,600. In 2.5 years, the card has appreciated 435% in value. 

Pelé won his first World Cup with Brazil in 1958, scoring 3 goals in the semifinals, followed by 2 goals in the final. The 1958 Tupinamba Pelé rookie card has a population of just 3 in a PSA 8 grade, with no copies graded higher. There are just 65 copies of the card graded in total. Goldin Auctions sold the card in January 2021 for $180,000. The last recorded sale of the card was in July of 2018 when it sold for $33,600. In 2.5 years, the card had appreciated 435% in value. 

Erling Haaland’s 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Red Refractor /10 is a population 1 in a BGS 10 grade. Goldin Auctions sold this card for $170,400 in August of this year. Haaland’s rare rookie cards have sold well throughout the entirety of 2021 and he has a lot to execute on the field to live up to these prices. 

This perforated card from the Editora-Aquarela offers the biggest-sized Pelé rookie we’ve seen thus far. A card like this certainly wasn’t printed on the stock they use today, so the PSA 7 grade accompanying it is very commendable. There are only two higher-graded copies, but they have yet to surface at a public auction.

Kylian Mbappe was the hobby darling as the soccer card market started to emerge in late 2020. Mbappe is just 22 years old but has already won a World Cup, becoming just the second teenager (behind Pelé) to score a goal in the World Cup finals. He’s led Ligue 1 three times in goal scoring, is a 2-time French League Cup Winner, 3-time French Cup Winner, and 4-time French Champion while playing for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Monaco. Goldin Auctions sold a BGS 8.5 graded Gold Prizm out of 10 copies in October 2021 for $161,130. Mbappe is the second most popular modern player (behind Haaland) given his record card sales in 2020 and 2021. 

This card shows how reactionary the hobby can be. Messi finally hoisted the World Cup trophy in Qatar, so his cards from this 2022 Prizm set skyrocketed. This culminated in a 1/1 Black Prizm sale that nearly topped out at $160,000. With age catching up to the Argentinian superstar, this could end up being Messi’s last World Cup card.

Sports Illustrated crowned Diego Maradona the best soccer player in history. Maradona played professional soccer for 21 years, won 1 World Cup, was awarded the Fifa World Cup Golden Ball for most outstanding finals performance in 1986 and scored what is often referred to as the greatest soccer goal in the history of the sport (even though it was technically an illegal shot). 

The 1977 Futbol Maradona disc card is recognized as one of his earliest cards and thus is considered a rookie card. A total of just 47 of these cards have been graded by PSA with just 6 copies receiving a grade of 7 and only 2 are graded higher (PSA 8). 

In March of 2021, Goldin Auctions sold a PSA 7 copy of the card for $157,200.

The dual autograph of the two best players of the 21st century may be the most visually striking card on the list. Since most players live in varying countries, it’s difficult to accumulate enough sticker autographs and even more difficult to have them sign on the physical card. Getting two bold signatures of soccer’s Magic and Bird will make it a very sought-after piece, which is indicative of its $147,600 sale price.v

Erling Haaland’s 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Orange Refractor has 25 copies, but only 1 has received a BGS 10 Pristine Black label grade putting it in a supply category with 1/1 Super Fractors. Goldin Auctions sold this card in June 2021 for $146,400.

The BGS 10 version of Haaland’s Red Refractor /10 sold for $170,400 via Goldin Auctions, and a PSA 10 copy sold in April 2021 also via Goldin Auctions, for $145,200. A 17% difference in value. Grades are a form of scarcity and even if the cards look to be in similar condition, the market has demonstrated that premiums are given to those cards that receive a higher grade. In this case, it was the difference of $25,200. 

Much like the 1/1 Black Prizm mentioned earlier, this card also commemorates Messi’s outstanding performance in Qatar. Interestingly enough, this card was said to come out of retail sticker products, meaning it was likely pulled from a Wal-Mart or other retailer. Turning a $5 pack into a $140,000 PSA 8 Messi sticker is quite the flip, and it shows how lucrative the hobby remains.

In May of 2021, a population of 3 Ronaldo World Cup Sticker rookie card in a BGS 10 grade sold for $120,000 via PWCC auctions. This PSA 10 copy bested that number in December of that same year. Unlike his traditional rookie card, this is a sticker. These types of cards (which we’ve seen already on the list) are commonly distributed at World Cups so that collectors can stick into notebooks to collect all the participating players for each team in that year. However, Ronaldo did not play in the 2002 World Cup, but this card still remains immensely popular.

Our last Haaland spot on the list is an orange rookie autograph. We’ve already spoken on how difficult soccer autographs can be to acquire, so this card selling for over $120,000 shows how much people are willing to pay for a big-name signature. Will Haaland measure up to this hype so far? That’s a debate for another day.

At #32, we have what is likely Messi’s first issued sticker card. He has another sticker in the Argentina kit for the 2006 World Cup, but this one features the youngster in his early Barcelona days. These stickers are also notoriously hard to grade, as they were meant for general wear and tear. However, this copy came out with a gem mint grade, and it sold for $120,000 in January of 2022.

This second-year Maradona card has a total supply of 31 cards graded by PSA with just 1 receiving a PSA 7 (none graded higher). Goldin Auctions sold that copy for $110,400 in June 2021. Maradona is known as one of, if not the best soccer player of all time, and cards from early in his career are low in supply, contributing to the six-figure price earned from a non-rookie card.

To round out the list, we have another piece to commemorate Messi’s 2022 World Cup victory. The Choice Nebula Prizm can only be found in exclusive Prizm Choice hobby boxes, making it an even tougher chase than the regular hobby parallels. This parallel features a whirlwind of hues, some of which contrast with the Argentinian blue perfectly. It sold for just over $97,000 in January of 2023.