Topps, the renowned sports card company, is set to revolutionize the world of Major League Soccer with its exclusive debut patch card program. Building on the success of its initiative in Major League Baseball, Topps is now venturing into the realm of soccer, promising fans unique 1/1 rookie cards that boast game-worn debut patches and player autographs in the upcoming MLS products.
This groundbreaking program for the 2024 season will celebrate the talented rookies of Major League Soccer by incorporating special debut patches into their jerseys for their first official game. These custom patches will then be carefully collected and utilized to craft one-of-a-kind rookie cards for future Topps MLS product releases, each adorned with the autograph of the respective player.
The meticulous process of creating these exclusive cards involves sending the MLS Debut patches to team equipment managers, who will then securely affix them to the jerseys of the first-year players using an adhesive on the back. Once the player has completed their debut game, these patches are delicately removed and sent to Topps, where they will be transformed into highly coveted collectible cards.
Players who make their MLS debut before April 1 will be featured in a 2024 Topps MLS product release, while those debuting after this date will have their debut patch included in the next year’s series. This strategic timing ensures that the emergence of new talent is promptly recognized and celebrated within the realm of Topps’ card collections.
As the MLS season kicks off with an exhilarating lineup of matches, fans can anticipate an opening night showdown between Inter Miami CF and Real Salt Lake. While the debut patch program will not showcase last season’s addition of the international sensation Lionel Messi to Miami, it will shine a spotlight on this year’s prominent newcomers such as Luis Suarez, the former Liverpool and Barcelona star, and Hugo Lloris, the esteemed ex-Tottenham goalkeeper.
The debut patch program has already demonstrated immense success within Major League Baseball, with numerous of the 91 MLB Debut patches from the 2023 Topps Chrome Update packages making their way to online platforms like eBay. The expansion of this highly popular program to Major League Soccer not only provides soccer enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to connect with budding stars but also underscores Topps’ commitment to innovation within the sports memorabilia market.
