Taking Soccer Collectibles to the Next Level
Topps MLS Flagship is back in 2023, and we had the pleasure of sitting down with Arvin Catriz, the senior art director responsible for the artistic wizardry behind the cards.
Sharing the spark of this design, Catriz details the process of putting out a product year after year: “It all starts with the Brand Team’s vision, aiming for a bolder look that harmonizes with MLS flagship branding,” he says.
Keeping Recipes
So, what’s the secret sauce that fuels these card designs? Catriz cites last year’s victories as the muse: “Since it’s an annual project, our main inspiration stemmed from last year’s designs. We aimed to top ourselves.” Now, for those hoping for groundbreaking novelties, Catriz levels with us: “Honestly, not much new this time.” But he emphasizes the perpetual challenge of blending tradition with innovation: “That’s the toughest part, year after year – keeping our designs fresh and memorable.”
New Inserts
While Catriz keeps a few cards close to his chest regarding featured players and teams, he tantalizingly unveils this year’s star inserts: Top Shelf Terrors and Pearlers. He explains, “We aimed for an aggressive, punk rock look with Top Shelf and the elegance of soccer moves with Pearlers.”
The Process
To capture Major League Soccer’s essence, Catriz discloses the secret ingredient: “Research, research, research. We dive into soccer designs to raise the bar every year.”
Wrapping up, Catriz leaves us with a tease: “Crack open those packs of the 2023 MLS Flagship cards, and expect another year of exhilarating cards.” The 2023 Topps MLS Flagship trading card set promises another thrilling chapter in soccer collectibles and should only get better with time.
