If you ask experienced collectors what makes sports cards so fascinating, very few will start by talking about money. Most remember the player first. A Mickey Mantle card reminds somebody of baseball’s golden era. A Michael Jordan rookie represents the NBA of the 1980s and 90s. Younger collectors may feel exactly the same way about … Read more
There was a time when the final whistle almost automatically led to the same scene. Two players met somewhere near the centre circle, pulled their jerseys over their heads, exchanged them with a smile and walked back to the dressing room wearing somebody else’s colours. It never felt organised. Nobody announced it. Nobody asked where … Read more
There is something about Neymar that I simply cannot reconcile with the memorabilia market. Watching the 2026 World Cup, you can already feel that Brazil has entered another era. VinÃcius Júnior has become the player around whom expectations revolve, younger players are taking over and Neymar suddenly looks like a veteran trying to squeeze one … Read more
Every World Cup creates players who suddenly look much bigger than they looked three weeks earlier. A goal in the group stage, two good games, a dramatic celebration, a few highlight clips, and suddenly the market starts treating a player like he has entered football history. With cards that is already dangerous. With jerseys, signed … Read more
I took a chance and found a very strong ebay deal: sealed Panini sticker boxes from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Right away, I knew what mattered most. The two biggest names in the product are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I paid 39 euros per box. If the Messi or Ronaldo … Read more