Major League Soccer has taken a leap into the collectible card market with the introduction of the 2024 Topps Chrome series, echoing the fervor seen with Major League Baseball’s 2023 Topps Chrome Update. The release of the 2024 MLS Topps Chrome on December 4 has set collectors abuzz, especially with the buzz surrounding one of its most prized cards—a redemption for Hugo Lloris’s Debut Patch Card has already been revealed.
In a thrilling turn of events on December 7, Andy Wert, the owner of E and J Boutique in Brooklyn, NY, was the lucky individual who cracked open a hobby box of the new MLS product and discovered the ultimate treasure within—a redemption for Hugo Lloris’s Debut Patch Card. Lloris, the esteemed goalkeeper known for leading France to World Cup victory in 2018 and holding the record for the most appearances for the French national team with 145 caps, made his MLS debut with Los Angeles FC this year. This unique card has instantly become a gem for enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Priced at a modest $120, the hobby box offers two chrome autographs per box, but it is the redemption card for Hugo Lloris’s Debut Patch that steals the spotlight as one of the most coveted pulls in the entire set.
The 2024 MLS Topps Chrome release represents a groundbreaking moment for MLS trading cards by featuring Debut Patch Cards that exhibit genuine jersey patches from players’ initial MLS appearances. The collection includes 35 Debut Patch Cards, showcasing prominent global athletes such as Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan striker now playing for Inter Miami, Emil Forsberg, the Swedish international with the New York Red Bulls, and Federico Redondo, an up-and-coming Argentinian talent at Inter Miami. Among these stars, Hugo Lloris’s Debut Patch Card shines as one of the highly sought-after cards in the set, blending his illustrious international career with his new chapter in Major League Soccer.
While the hobby boxes of MLB’s 2023 Topps Chrome Update have surged to $400 in the secondary market, the 2024 MLS Topps Chrome product remains an affordable option at $120 per box. With several prominent Debut Patch Cards still out there, including those of Suárez and Forsberg, soccer enthusiasts are eagerly diving into the chase to secure their own piece of sporting history.
The introduction of Debut Patch Cards signifies a significant expansion for MLS collectible cards, solidifying their position as a rising star in the collectibles market. Through showcasing international legends and commemorating their MLS debuts, the league has successfully tapped into a burgeoning collector base hungry for distinctive memorabilia.
As collectors across the globe continue to rip open packs of the 2024 MLS Topps Chrome series, the fervor and anticipation surrounding this release show no signs of waning. With Hugo Lloris’s reveal capturing headlines, fans are on the edges of their seats, waiting to witness which of the remaining iconic cards will surface next.
