The World Cup is the greatest tournament on the planet. It provides us with some of the most exciting sports moments, but you'll also get to see a ton of young players who have yet to make a name for themselves.
Soccer card collectors love collecting cards from these future stars because they're often cheaper than regular player cards -- just look at how much people pay now for Messi and Ronaldo cards compared to when they first came out! If you want something more affordable than those two superstars, here are 5 players making their World Cup debut plus 5 legends who've been here before:
Lionel Messi, Argentina
Is this Messi's last World Cup? Probably. Will it be the end of collecting Messi cards? Definitely not.
Lionel Messi is the best soccer player in the world, and he has a great World Cup story. He was part of Argentina’s team that won gold at the 2008 Olympics, when they defeated Nigeria in penalties after a 0-0 draw. He scored four goals during the tournament and was named Player of the Tournament.
Look for movement in the price of Messi's rookie card plus in some of the beautiful relics and autos available at the higher end.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Despite current complications with Man Utd, Ronaldo is still one of the best soccer players in the world right now, and he has been dominating the sport for more than a decade. He plays for Portugal, has won five Ballon d'Ors (best player in the world) and two European Championships.
He is known for his speed and ability to score goals with both feet, which makes him an excellent choice for any collector interested in cards online or offline.
Neymar, Brazil
Neymar plays as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team. He was named in the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2014, and also won a bronze medal with Brazil at the 2012 Olympics.
In addition to his playing career, Neymar has endorsement deals with companies including Nike and Panasonic making him very collectable.
Kylian Mbappe, France
Born in Paris, France, Kylian Mbappe plays for Paris Saint-Germain. At just 20 years old, he won the World Cup with France in 2018.
Kylian Mbappe is one of the most exciting young talents in soccer today and one that many collectors see as the replacement for talents like Messi and Ronaldo.
Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium
You’re going to want to add Kevin De Bruyne to your soccer card collection. He’s arguably one of the best players in the world right now, and he plays for Manchester City in England.
Gareth Bale, Wales
Gareth Bale is a Welsh international footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Wales national team. While no stranger to big tournaments, 2022 will be Bale's first ever time to participate in the World Cup.
Leroy Sane, Germany
Sane plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Manchester City and the Germany national team. He was also a youth international, playing for Germany at various age levels. Sane made his senior international debut in 2017, after having previously represented Germany at under-19 and under-21 level
Alphonso Davies, Canada
Alphonso Davies is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a winger for the Bayern Munich and the Canada national team.
Jude Bellingham, England
Jude Bellingham is a defender for Borussia Dortmund and England. He made his debut for England in 2014 against Chile, replacing Glen Johnson as right back due to injury.
Virgil van Dijk, Netherlands
Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch professional soccer player who currently plays for Liverpool FC and the Netherlands national team. He is one of the best defenders in the world and will be playing in his first World Cup this year.
It's a great time to be a soccer card collector. There are so many different players to collect and even if you don't follow the World Cup, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to find new players or new teams that you like.
Plus, it makes watching all the games over the next few weeks extra exciting!
