It’s the CGC Hot List, and we’re sharing some of the most popular submissions that have passed through the grading room recently, including players from the past and present who are driving the current market. Utilizing comprehensive insights from CGC submission data and zeroing in on the most popular soccer submissions, here are five of the most-submitted soccer stars in recent weeks.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11, and as anticipation built in the lead up to the tournament, CGC received an influx of soccer card submissions. Topping the list was FC Barcelona and the Spain national team's teenage phenom Lamine Yamal, who is already considered one of the best players in the world. The right winger's combination of speed, skillful dribbling, creativity, and curling goals have made Yamal one of the most exciting players to watch across Europe. Although he burst onto the scene just a few years ago at only 15 years old, collectors have already been hoarding Yamal's cards, and now they are submitting them in droves.
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Arguably the greatest soccer player ever and one of the most-submitted soccer stars for years has been Argentina's Lionel Messi, as collectors stockpile his cards tied to his club and country. Every four years, when the World Cup returns, so does an increase in Panini World Cup Sticker submissions. Only released during the international soccer tournament, the stickers are collected across the globe, with the Argentinian's stickers being one of the most valuable among each World Cup Sticker setlist and one of the favorites to chase.
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Norway's star striker, Erling Haaland, has been among the world's best for several years now, cementing his place as a modern icon of the game. Still just 25 years old, he has won almost every award possible at the club level while playing for Manchester City, but Haaland is still in search of international titles. The goalscoring machine has become a bit of a social media star recently, with it being well-documented online that Haaland is enjoying his stay in the United States during the World Cup, as the fan favorite chases Norway's first-ever FIFA World Cup Trophy. In the meantime, collectors are submitting their favorite Haaland cards in hopes of earning a coveted CGC Gem Mint 10 like the one above.
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Every time Argentina takes the field, Lionel Messi seems to steal the headlines (and rightfully so), even though Argentina's national team is stacked with talent. That includes 26-year-old forward Julian Alvarez who has already won every major team award in the sport: back-to-back English Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League title, and the 2022 World Cup title. After several consistently productive seasons for Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, Alvarez has become one of Europe's finest at the club level. That's why fans and collectors alike submit Alvarez's base cards, parallels, and even autographed versions of his cards signed in the presence of a CGC representative, making the collectible eligible for the iconic CGC Signature Series yellow label.
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Some of the more unique and fun soccer cards that have been submitted recently feature multiple athletes on the same card. Multi-player cards can showcase two or more players or even a full team photo, with examples like the one above showcasing three of the greatest soccer players of all time: Pele, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Some multi-player cards are elevated even further when they are serial numbered, contain game-used relics, or are autographed by each legendary player like the 2022-23 Stadium Club Chrome UEFA Co-Signers Autographs #CSA-MR Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo - Red Refractor graded CGC 9, with autographs graded CGC 10.
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games, and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs, and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation, and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray, and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.
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