Rare Soccer Card Fetches $122,000 at Auction

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The Thriving Market of Sports Cards

The sports card market is experiencing significant growth, with soccer cards gathering heightened interest from collectors recently.
A record sale during this surge, albeit not the highest among all sports cards, highlights the appeal of the superfractor of Lamine Yamal.
This rising star in the soccer world recently celebrated winning the European Championship with Spain in his debut professional season.

Who is Lamine Yamal?

Born in 2007, Yamal is a prodigy from Barcelona, often touted as a future Ballon d’Or winner, making his cards highly sought after among collectors.

The Unique Superfractor Card

Particularly noteworthy is the 1-of-1 superfractor, discovered by a father-son duo who have seen their investment skyrocket in value recently.
Upon the release of the Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competition 2023-2024 set, it became clear that the 1/1 Lamine Yamal card would be the crowning jewel for collectors.

The Rarity of Superfractor Cards

For those unfamiliar with card collecting, superfractors are the rarest among “holographic” cards.
Their limited print run means that there’s only one of each in existence worldwide.
Thus, it was anticipated that Yamal’s rookie card would be highly coveted.
Jake and Chris, the lucky father-son pair from Orlando, purchased several hobby boxes, including the Topps set, which retails in Italy for approximately €250 to €350.

A Surprising Value Discovery

The discovery of Yamal’s superfractor left them astonished, especially as they initially undervalued the card, estimating a worth of around $5,000.
A little research revealed its true value, prompting contact from the renowned sports memorabilia auction house Goldin, known for showcasing sports collectibles and even featured in a Netflix series.

An Unexpected Profit

They agreed to auction the card, hoping to raise enough funds to open their own hobby shop.
Incredibly, they earned $100,000, with an additional 22% buyer’s premium raising the total to $122,000.

Was Selling the Right Move?

Evaluating their initial investment against what they received suggests Jake and Chris made a wise decision.
Yet, there’s also the potential for increased value over time.
With Yamal’s promising career ahead and his impressive inaugural season statistics, he might achieve even greater accolades.
If he maintains his performance, he too could be in contention for the Ballon d’Or, following in the footsteps of legends like Messi.

Future Value of the Rookie Card

Despite the potential for future cards, Yamal’s rookie card is likely to remain highly desirable.
While his value could soar, several risks linger, such as injuries and fluctuating interest in the sports card market.

Comparing Values of Iconic Cards

Even at $122,000, Yamal’s superfractor doesn’t crack the top ranks of the most expensive sports cards.
Historic cards, like Pelé’s 1959 rookie card that fetched $1.3 million, or Maradona’s 1979 Panini card sold for $556,000, top the charts.
Messi’s 2022 Gold Prizm card also commands a whopping $522,000.
Will Yamal’s rookie ever match these figures?

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