Collectible soccer cards are one of the fastest-growing hobbies in Israel. Anyone who loves football understands the appeal quickly: you open a sealed box, and inside there may be a rookie card of the next big star, or a genuine autograph of a player you admire. But for someone just starting out, the names, the sets and the terms can be confusing. This guide sorts it out.
What is in a box of soccer cards?
Every box holds several packs, and every pack holds several cards. Most of the cards are base cards - the ordinary card of each player in the set. Alongside them come special cards (inserts) with a different design and a theme of their own, and coloured versions of the base cards (parallels or refractors). Some of those versions are numbered - for example 25/99 - meaning only 99 copies were printed worldwide. And Hobby boxes usually also contain a "hit": a card signed by a player, or a card with a piece of a shirt worn in a match.
Topps or Panini?
The two big companies in soccer cards are Topps and Panini. Topps currently holds the licences for the Champions League and the Premier League, so its sets - Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions, Topps Merlin and Topps Premier League - are the central sets of the season. Panini has sets such as Prizm, Select and Noir, which cover the World Cup and European leagues among others. A full comparison in Topps Chrome or Panini Prizm.
Blaster or Hobby - which to start with?
For beginners we recommend starting with a Blaster box. It is smaller and cheaper, and lets you get to know the set, the card types and the feel of an opening without spending much. A good example is Topps Premier League Blaster. After a few openings, once you understand what you like, you can move up to a Hobby box - the collector's box, with more special cards and usually a guaranteed autograph, such as Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions Hobby. The full differences are explained in Hobby or Blaster.
Which set should you choose?
The simplest rule: choose by what you love. Premier League fans will enjoy the Topps Premier League set. Anyone who loves the Champions League and Europe's big clubs will go for Topps Chrome UEFA or for Merlin, with its charming design. And anyone following the World Cup will find the national teams in Panini's Road to FIFA World Cup sets. When every card that comes out is of a team or a player you love, every opening is exciting - even without a big hit.
Which cards are worth more?
A few things set a card's value:
Rookie card
A player's first card in their first season in the official set. Rookie cards of players who became stars - like Lamine Yamal or Jude Bellingham - are among the most sought-after on the market.
Numbering and scarcity
The fewer copies printed, the rarer the card. A 1/1 is the only one of its kind in the world.
Autograph
A signed card, especially a signature on the card itself (On-Card), is worth more than the ordinary version.
The card's condition
Corners, edges and the centring of the print matter a great deal. That is why valuable cards are sent for professional grading - a full explanation in What PSA grading is.
How to look after your cards from day one
The common beginner's mistake is leaving special cards on the table. Right after the opening, put every card that looks special to you into a soft sleeve (penny sleeve) and then into a rigid toploader. Keep them away from sun, heat and humidity. One crushed corner can take a lot of value off. A full guide: How to store your cards so they keep their value.
And what about breaks?
Premium soccer card boxes cost thousands of shekels. A break lets you take part in opening one of them for a small fraction of the price: you buy a spot, each spot is assigned a team by a draw, the box is opened on a live stream, and all the cards of your team are sent to you. It is an excellent way to start, and to get to know other collectors. How ours work: What a break is.
In summary
Start with a small box from a set you love, keep every special card in a sleeve and a toploader, and learn from each opening. All the soccer card boxes on the site are authentic and factory sealed, with delivery anywhere in Israel or pickup in Rishon LeZion. And if you have a question - we are here to help.