Topps MLS 30th Anniversary First Look

Celebrating 30 Years of MLS

The Major League Soccer landscape is standing strong as its 30th season unfolds in 2025, but arguably not enough has been said about the progress MLS has made since its inception in 1996. Professional soccer in America existed before the inaugural MLS season, but the clean slate and buzz around what a new major sports league could look like generated conversations everywhere. It was clear that FIFA and the U.S. were on the same page in wanting to grow the world’s game on American soil.

Following the excitement of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which took place in the U.S., plans took shape that eventually led to the debut campaign two years later. Part of why America was awarded the right to host the 1994 global tournament in 1988 was that, in return, the U.S. Soccer Federation needed to establish a Division 1 professional soccer league. That’s where MLS began to take its first steps into what it is today.

As Topps celebrates the history and legacy of MLS with the new 2025 Topps MLS 30th Anniversary Collection, it’s the perfect time to take stock of where the league has been, where it is now, and where it’s going, both on the pitch and in The Hobby.

The Beginnings of MLS

International names like Carlos Valderrama, Hugo Sanchez, Jorge Campos, and Roberto Donadoni were among the first crop of recognizable talent to take a chance on the new league. Joining the likes of American players Marcelo Balboa, Jeff Agoos, Tony Meola, Tab Ramos (the league’s first-ever signing), Eric Wynalda, and Preki, there was plenty of reason for fans and the new-born league to be ecstatic.

After fans packed Spartan Stadium (now known as CEFCU Stadium) on April 6, 1996, for the inaugural match between the San Jose Clash and D.C. United, there was reason for optimism. Fans continued to tune in and capture the magic MLS was bringing to the nation throughout the 1996 campaign. A lot of promise and potential was shown early on, and throughout the entirety of that first season, which ended with D.C. United lifting the league’s first MLS Cup with a 3-2 win over the LA Galaxy at Foxboro Stadium on October 20, 1996.

However, the current benefits the league is reaping cannot be told or appreciated without talking about the growing pains in the years after 1996. From financial struggles to “Americanizing” the global game, to fans losing interest, MLS was on the verge of folding. The finances began to stabilize thanks to investors who saw the potential in what the league could be with strategic action. Moving forward with soccer-specific stadiums (shoutout to Historic Crew Stadium, which housed the Columbus Crew from 1999-2021) and traditional soccer rules and regulations, there was reason to believe things could turn around.

An International Imprint

Perhaps the biggest reason why MLS has taken off more recently is the implementation of the Designated Player Rule ahead of the 2007 campaign. This integration allowed MLS clubs the ability to sign and bring in international stars outside of their salary caps on lucrative deals. It essentially gave Major League Soccer a seat at the table when it came time for transfer windows.

The rule was informally labeled the “Beckham Rule” after David Beckham’s then-record-breaking deal to join the LA Galaxy. Since that signing, the Designated Player Rule has allowed the league, team owners, and international players to reap major benefits, while also giving fans in the U.S. a chance to see world-class talent on home soil.

Whether it was Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Carlos Vela, David Villa, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Thierry Henry, Rafael Márquez, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo, Kaká, Luis Suárez, and Lionel Messi, to name a few, the league should be proud that these legends decided to play in the United States. Maybe in some ways, the first pools of international players like Hristo Stoichkov, Lothar Matthäus, Marco Etcheverry, Mauricio Cienfuegos, and Stern John paved the way for non-American players to have a role in growing the world’s game through MLS. They, alongside the likes of American legends Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Brian McBride, Cobi Jones, Tim Howard, Kyle Beckerman, Eddie Pope, and Claudio Reyna, helped MLS get to where it’s at now in the years that followed.

MLS Today and the 2025 Topps 30th Anniversary Set

Fast forward to 2025, and whether it’s international star Messi or teenage phenom Cavan Sullivan, MLS stands strong as a global league and one that has proven to attract elite talent. Tripling its franchises from 10 to 30 was no easy feat, but it shows the immense growth the league has accomplished since 1996. When talking about its age, MLS is still considerably young when compared to other leagues around the world, but celebrating its 30th season is something to be proud of.

MLS and Topps joined forces to create a commemorative set that pays homage to the league’s past, celebrates its present, and looks ahead to its exciting future. Chris Blivin, MLS Vice President of Consumer Products, explained why it made so much sense to create a Topps trading card set for the anniversary.

“Collectibles are about the stories they tell, and Topps’ ability to continuously push world-class storytelling through the medium of trading cards has been what sets them apart,” Blivin said. “It’s important from a league perspective to have the best partners to help communicate the history that got us to where we are now, while also putting us in a position to communicate our passion for innovation and our future.”

Blivin, who grew up playing fútbol, mentioned that while MLS has grown rich bringing in elite players outside the United States, American players have played a big role in growing the popularity of the league as well.

“Major League Soccer has a special history attracting some of the best talent from around the world, but we also love to celebrate the world-class talent that was born and grew up training right here,” he said. “It’s critical to make sure we celebrate all of our great history, and the players and clubs that created it.”

Topps Director of Brand for Soccer and F1, Dillon Stambaugh, echoed the same sentiment.

“You can’t tell the story of American soccer without featuring some of the cult icons of the ’90s and early ’00s,” Stambaugh said. “Yes, the league has had immense success in big transfers like Beckham, Zlatan, and Messi, but it was built here in the [United] States, and collectors are proud of that.” Stambaugh said. “It’s important to celebrate and highlight both.”

All fair statements there, but there was still another major part of the equation that needed to be sorted out, and that’s the design. Art Director Jackie Akerley, who led the product’s design, explained her creative process and the vision she had for this creation.

“We wanted this product to visually fit into the portfolio of other Topps MLS products, and felt it was important to have the MLS 30th logo front and center to call attention to the milestone for the league,” Akerley said. Calling back to throwback card design elements from the ‘90s was something Akerley mentioned was important to feature in some capacity in the anniversary set.”

Akerley highlighted how having the chance to work on this commemorative set was a big opportunity, and why it was key for her to get it right.

“Working on products that capture important moments in sports is always exciting,” she said. “This product stands out because we were able to celebrate this milestone while highlighting the history of the league.”

To the same sentiment of Akerley, Sr. Brand Manager Pat O’Sullivan expressed his thoughts on having the opportunity to contribute to something memorable.

“Thrilled to help create something that encompasses so much history and feature iconic names who have stepped onto a Major League Soccer field,” O’Sullivan said. “I remember watching the inaugural season, attending my first MLS Cup (2002 in New England), and now creating this product brings back a lot of those fond memories.”

Coming up with a subject list, inserts, and which autos to feature that represented the different players over the years wasn’t easy, but he knew it was important. Seeing how influential the league’s progress has been since its first steps in 1996, O’Sullivan kept key players from different eras top of mind to tell the league’s anniversary story as best as possible. He voiced why collectors should be excited for the upcoming product.

“This is a celebration of 30 seasons of Major League Soccer. [It’s a] chance to connect with the past, look ahead to the future, and own something that is a special representation of just that.”

In coordination with Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association, Topps is proud to present a first look at the upcoming 2025 Topps MLS 30th Anniversary Collection. Featuring league legends from the past to the stars of today to the phenoms of tomorrow, the 30-base card set pays tribute to all of that and more. Also featured are the Anniversary Accolodes and Decades of Honors insert cards. Plus, the one-of-a-kind 30th Anniversary Hat-Trick triple-auto cards.

It’s a set not just for soccer fans, but for all card collectors — a mixture of nostalgia and contemporary culture, meshing into one unique and commemorative product. The limited-edition is on sale July 22 on Topps.com, ahead of the 2025 MLS All-Star Game going down at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

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