You Need to Know
Just when the Premier League thought it had seen it all, along came Erling Haaland.
With 100 goals in his first 105 games, let’s be honest, his stats are ridiculous.
But it’s not just his on-field heroics that set records. His trading cards give Messi and Ronaldo a run for their money too.
In this article, you’ll learn the five most valuable Haaland football cards and what makes them so expensive.
There are some valuable card collecting lessons here too, so make sure to read to the end to discover the key takeaways…
5. 2022-23 Topps Dynasty UCL Autographed Patch Gold #AP-EH6 Erling Haaland Signed Patch Card (#1/1)
This card has virtually everything going for it, and it fetched an impressive price at auction.
Here’s what makes it rare and valuable:
- Firstly, it’s a 1 of 1. This means there’s no other copies of it in the world.
- Secondly, the big man himself has signed it. Autograph cards are incredibly sought-after.
- If that wasn’t enough, it also includes a match-worn patch. But what collectors really appreciate is that the patch contains the perfectly aligned ship, which symbolises the Manchester Ship Canal.
- The card is also from the first ever Topps Dynasty set, which just happens to coincide with Man City’s treble winning season – adding extra meaning to the card.
4. 2019-20 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Autograph Orange Refractor #72 Erling Haaland Signed Rookie Card (#21/25) – PSA GEM MINT 10, PSA/DNA 10 – Pop 3
Scoring 13 times (including a famous hat-trick on his debut), Haaland’s first season at Dortmund gave him lift off.
This Topps Chrome Haaland autograph card commemorates it perfectly and was high in-demand at auction.
Here’s what makes it rare and valuable:
- Firstly, other than the 1 of 1 version, it’s the lowest serial numbered card to feature Haaland’s autograph (there are only 25 copies of this card in existence).
- Next this is a ‘Gem Mint’ card in every sense of the word! It’s a PSA 10, but also DNA certified too which guarantees authenticity.
- At the time of auction it was only a Pop 3 (now 4). ‘Pop’ stands for population, meaning only 3 PSA 10’s existed at the time.
- Finally, it’s a special Topps Refractor card, meaning state-of-the-art technology is used to create a beautiful rainbow prism effect on the front.
3. 2022-23 Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions Chrome Autographs SuperFractor #CA-EH Erling Haaland Signed Card (#1/1) – PSA MINT 9, PSA/DNA GEM MT 10
Next we’ve got another absolute gem from Man City’s famous treble winning season, and it’s almost perfect…
Here’s what makes it rare and valuable:
- Firstly, being a Superfractor™, this card is a big deal. It’s a 1 of 1 and the ultimate chase card in the set. Similar to the card above, it has a special rainbow prism finish to it.
- Next we combine that with Haaland’s autograph, brightly showcased across the middle.
- And finally, it’s a PSA 9 meaning it’s mint condition, and DNA certified.
As I mention, it’s almost perfect. It didn’t quite reach PSA Gem Mint 10 status, meaning there are some slight imperfections to it.
2. 2022-23 Topps Chrome UCC Chrome Triple Autographs SuperFractor #TA-MRH Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo/Erling Haaland Multi-Signed Card (#1/1) – PSA MINT 9
Two of the greatest players to have ever played the game, and arguably the best goal scorer of this generation… all on one card.
Just imagine how it felt to pull this from a pack!
Here’s what makes it rare and valuable:
- Again we’ve got a 1 of 1 Superfractor™, meaning there’s only one of these cards in the world!
- We’ve also got beautifully placed triple autographs, showcasing all three players next to them.
- Importantly, this card also represents a passing of the torch moment, with Messi and Ronaldo in the twilight years of their careers, and Haaland entering his prime.
For any collector, this is a very thought-provoking card and it’s final sale price is significant too.
It teases the question, ‘who is next in line to join the elite?’
Because if you’re able to identify player potential, you’ll also be able to make educated decisions on how to grow your personal collection.
1. 2019-20 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Red Refractor #72 Erling Haaland Rookie Card (#04/10) – PSA GEM MT 10 – Pop 3
Now, number one might surprise you…
Other cards on this list have autographs, match worn patches and some are even one of a kind.
The card above has none of those rarity drivers, yet it’s the most expensive Haaland card on this list.
Let’s explore why…
Here’s what makes it rare and valuable:
- Aside from a SuperFractor, the Red Refractor is the rarest variant with a print run of only 10 cards.
- The card is also a PSA Gem Mint 10, and at the time of sale there were only 3 copies at that grade (it’s now 4).
- But most importantly, it’s seen as Haaland’s ultimate ‘rookie card’.
If you’re unfamiliar with concept of Rookie Cards, it’s basically the first ever card printed of that player after they make their debut.
Now purist collectors will argue that there several other ‘Haaland rookies’ that came before this one!
I mean, he played for RZ Salzburg before he joined Dortmund, so this wasn’t even his first club!
But the problem with these other rookies, is that they’re just not rare enough for collectors.
They were printed in volume, and there’s too many in the market to drive value. And with Haaland being such a significant talent, the market demanded a rare rookie – hence the 2019-2020 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Refractor variants being adopted as his main rookie card.
Valuable Lessons & Key Takeaways
1. Not All Rookies Are Super Valuable
The case above teaches us to not buy cards blindly, just because they’re listed as ‘rookies’. Scarcity drives value, so make sure you do your research on what the sought-after rookie actually is.
2. Grading Cards Affects Values, Most of The Time
It’s no secret, every collector loves ‘Gem Mint 10’ cards, and people pay more for them compared to lower grades. The fewer of them for a particular card, the rarer that perfect copy becomes.
But for certain cards, like the 1 of 1’s above, the rarity box is already ticked! The grade itself doesn’t add much. In fact, anything other than a perfect 10 can thwart the value!
3. Sporting Achievements Add Extra Meaning To Cards
Ever since Man City’s takeover in 2008, their goal of winning the Champions League has been very public. It alluded the club for a long time, but the 2022-23 season finally delivered the coveted trophy for Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Their journey was 15 years in the making, and it’s the icing on the cake for Haaland cards of that year.
Epic stories romanticize cards, add extra meaning, and ultimately make them more valuable to collectors.
In Conclusion
Erling Haaland is only 24 years old. Most footballers don’t hit their prime for another 3-4 years. Yet already, it’s not farfetched to predict that he’ll go down as one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time.
Collectors see this in the value of his trading cards.
They understand his significance to football, and some are willing pay six-figures for his most coveted cards.
So although the opportunity to snap up his Bundesliga rookie, from sealed products or unaware sellers may have passed. There is a wonderful opportunity as collectors, to try and find who’s next…
Over to you.
