In a world where influencers have transcended the digital realm to become cultural icons, Topps has taken the opportunity to immortalize this digital stardom on tiny, glossy rectangles. Get ready for a collector’s dream or an obsession, depending on whom you ask. The trading card titan has astutely blended influencer culture and charity with the launch of the Sidemen Charity Match 2025 trading cards, a move that tiptoes along the line between entrepreneurial innovation and capitalizing on influencer frenzy. Because, you know, nothing screams “heartfelt philanthropy” quite like selling hundreds of thousands of cardboard rectangles featuring our favorite YouTube stars. At least a portion of the proceeds are destined for charities like Brightside and M7 Education, so you can experience that feel-good sensation even as you surrender to the compelling embrace of collectible consumerism.
In a rather inspired move, they’ve clinched the rights to produce the first-ever official trading card of the internet’s beloved mogul, MrBeast. This YouTube virtuoso, who could probably turn a clip of grass growing into a 10-million-view sensation, is sure to send collectors into a tizzy. It’s a clever ploy, really—collectors can now justify their card-collecting obsession by framing it as a charitable act. But who wouldn’t want to own a pocket-sized image of the man who casually hands out luxury cars to viewers who twitch on command?
Now, let’s delve into the card gimmicks that await. Each order made before April 4th, 2025, includes a basic, no-frills card—but who are we kidding, that’s just the warmup. The real action lies within the lair of the mystical “chase” cards, those elusive wonders that rarely see the light of day and are more likely to exist in tales from an alternate dimension. Here’s the lineup of shiny temptations:
– Gold Foil /50
– Orange Foil /25
– Black Foil /10
– Red Foil /5
– And behold, the almighty FoilFractor /1—the answer to all questions no one asked.
Not content with obfuscating scarcity with foil colors alone, Topps has rolled out Chrome and Opal Chrome chase cards, a testament to the hypothesis that “more variations equal more value.” Here’s how it breaks down:
– Chrome, with a print run over 50k, starts at /99 and descends closer to the collector’s holy grail with SuperFractor 1/1.
– Opal Chrome appears once you breach 250k, because in the realm of collectibles, sparkle really does equate to value.
– Reaching the zenith, we find the White OpalFractor 1/1, crafted for those who need something to brag about at their next collector’s meetup.
These collectibles, however, come with a caveat disguised as a thrill: their availability hinges on the expansion of the print run. In layman’s terms, buy enough to inflate the print run, and one might unlock the possibility of snagging something truly extraordinary. It mirrors the allure of Pokémon cards but with a modern influencer twist.
And let’s not forget the kicker: pulling a one-of-a-kind MrBeast or KSI card not only garners coolness points but now is officially referred to as “extra drip” by the youth of today. It’s a term that undoubtedly needs some self-reflection by anyone over the age of 25 but you’ll have to stick with it to retain your street cred, if nothing else.
As is tradition with the fleeting phenomena that are Topps NOW drops, these prized pieces of laminated memorabilia will vanish rapidly. The sales culminate on April 4th, and once the ink has dried on the print run, you’ll discern whether your purchase was a golden ticket to Grailville or just another base card destined to languish in a shoebox alongside a forgotten mixtape of your misplaced youth.
Of course, all of this card commotion is set against the backdrop of the Sidemen’s annual endeavor of quirky philanthropy. Since 2016, they’ve been orchestrating what can only be described as a euphoric melee of influencers under the guise of a soccer match—all for the pressing need to raise funds for UK charities. Picture this: content creators dashing across the pitch in their shorts, fervently kicking at the ball, all while unbeknownst to them, their likenesses are embarking on their own journey—this time into the hearts, minds, and collector albums of their loyal fans.
So, whether your admiration is firmly placed on MrBeast’s digital altar or you’re just angling to turn shiny scraps into cold currency, there’s room for everyone in this cardboard crusade. Brace yourself, dear collector, the frenzy is real and the time is now.
