Topps, the renowned trading card company, is revolutionizing the Major League Soccer (MLS) scene with the introduction of its exclusive debut patch card program. Following the success of its innovative initiative in Major League Baseball, Topps is set to bring unique 1/1 rookie cards to MLS fans, featuring game-worn debut patches and player autographs in upcoming MLS products.
For the 2024 season, Topps is taking the debut patch card program to MLS, aiming to spotlight and celebrate the league’s new talents. This distinctive program entails incorporating special debut patches into the jerseys of rookie players for their first-ever game. These patches, once collected post-debut, will be utilized to create one-of-a-kind rookie cards for future Topps MLS releases, each adorned with the player’s autograph.
The intricate process involves sending the MLS Debut patches to team equipment managers, who will carefully attach them to the jerseys of first-year players using adhesive backing. After the player’s debut match, these patches are delicately removed and forwarded to Topps for the transformation into highly collectible cards.
Players making their MLS debut before April 1 will be featured in the 2024 Topps MLS product, while those debuting after this date will have their patches reserved for the next year’s series. This strategic timing ensures that up-and-coming talents are promptly acknowledged and commemorated through the unique platform of Topps’ card collections.
The MLS season is set to commence with an exciting array of matches, with an opening night clash between Inter Miami CF and Real Salt Lake. While the debut patch program won’t include last season’s addition of global star Lionel Messi to Miami, it will shine a spotlight on this year’s high-profile newcomers like Luis Suarez, previously with Liverpool and Barcelona, and Hugo Lloris, the former Tottenham goalkeeper.
Drawing inspiration from the success of the debut patch program in Major League Baseball, where several of the 91 MLB Debut patches from the 2023 Topps Chrome Update packages became hot collectibles on eBay, Topps aims to replicate this enthusiasm within the MLS fanbase. By extending this program to soccer, Topps not only offers fans a distinct way to engage with emerging talents but also upholds its tradition of pioneering innovations in the realm of sports memorabilia.
