Rookie cards
A player's first official card concentrates most of the demand. It is the segment where the grade most affects price.
Soccer cards
Soccer cards are the fastest-growing sports segment in Europe. Panini and Topps share the major league licences, and demand concentrates on rookies and autographed cards.
In short
On soccer cards, two families of defects dominate depending on the era. On modern issues — Panini Prizm, Topps Chrome, Select — it is micro-scratches on chrome surfaces and chipping on dark borders, visible at almost any light angle. On older cards, it is centering and cut regularity. Autographed cards get a separate assessment of the signature, which may receive its own grade depending on the company.
Soccer at a glance
- Main publishers
- Panini, Topps
- Competitions
- Premier League, Ligue 1, Champions League
- Driving segment
- Rookies
- Limiting factor (modern)
- Chrome surface
- Common companies
- PSA, BGS, PCA
What decides the grade
Modern
Chrome surfaces
Prizm, Chrome and their refractors show micro-scratches at almost any angle. It is the leading source of lost points on modern cards.
Border chipping
Dark borders show white micro-chips, sometimes straight out of the pack. Nothing to do with your handling, but counted all the same.
Autographs
The signature is assessed separately from the card. A signature that smears, fades or was applied on a glossy area drags the whole thing down.
Vintage
Older cutting
On older sets, centering and cut regularity become the limiting factor again, as with any vintage.
The segments carrying the market
Champions League and international competitions
Pan-European audience, therefore a wider resale market than a single domestic league.
Autographed and numbered cards
Explicit, verifiable scarcity. Certification secures the signature's authenticity as much as the card's condition.
Vintage Panini
Older sets have a stable nostalgia audience, with copies in fine condition now scarce.