An Inside Look at the Newly-Released Set
Today marks the eagerly-anticipated release of the 2024 Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions. Beginning in 2017/18, this series is designed to showcase the greatest stars and stories of soccer’s premier continental club competitions, The Champions League, The Europa League, and the European Conference League.
The set brings a unique challenge for its product designers. Product Director Dillon Stambaugh said, “You have to cater to all three competitions, dozens of clubs which is an exciting challenge. We want to make sure the athletes are showcased and that the prestige of the UEFA Club Competitions shines through.”
This year’s base set features 200 cards, including intriguing rookie card debuts for Bradley Barcola, the young Paris Saint-Germain star, and 17-year old wonderkid Yamine Lamal, who set the soccer world on fire with his unprecedented performance helping Spain to a 2024 UEFA EURO title this summer. “Within the base set, we wanted to focus on getting color and exciting patterns into collector’s hands, said Stambaugh. The parallels are obvious, and flood the entire card. Patterns like Lava and Pulsar are in-your-face, a nod to the iconic 2017/18 Chrome design.”
One new design element in this year’s set is the stunning XI Parallel. “We wanted to come up with a truly unique, football-specific parallel this year,” explained Stambaugh. “We landed on the XI parallel, which sees cards numbered using roman numerals for the first time. These are on a never-before-seen gold chrome, giving off a Roman, prestigious feel.”
Now in its seventh year, the designers of UCC Chrome have seen the product evolve and so set out to create more top-of-the-line chase elements in the 2023-24 edition, including short prints and case hits like Shadow Etch, a refined black-and-gold design featuring 1/1 autos from Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane.
A variety of new inserts should appeal to collectors of TOPPS UEFA cards. London’s Calling is a showcase of some of the stars of the UEFA Champions League. “We wanted to showcase players in their pursuit of making it to the Ultimate Stage – The UEFA Champions League Final – which this past season took place in London,” said Stambaugh. The design sets the player on a background of London’s famous landmarks.
Another new addition, Starball Debuts, is one for the history buffs. Set against an intricate sparkling pattern, the insert showcases vintage photography from a player’s first-ever UCL match.
Returning to the fold is Golazo, an insert that debuted in the 2020-21 set and has become synonymous with UCC Chrome. This year’s edition of Golazo includes USMNT captain and AC Milan star Christian Pulisic set against a vibrant, arresting, almost kaleidoscopic background.
2023-24 UCC Chrome’s triple autograph series features some of the greatest clubs in UEFA competition history. Most feature vintage images of the influential players who helped these clubs reach or maintain greatness on the European stage. Highlights include the Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets triple auto, featuring the midfield triad who laid the foundation for three Champions League titles in a six-year span for FC Barcelona. One teams up Messi and Ronaldo with Zlatan, three iconic players of their era.
2023-24 TOPPS Chrome UEFA Competitions is a fantastic and colorful blend of old favorites and breakthrough designs that honor the importance, excitement, and prestige of the UEFA soccer competition.
