The Soccer Card Boom: Grading Stats That Prove It's Just Getting Started

Remember that Instagram post from early 2022? The one where I dropped some eye-opening stats on PSA-graded soccer cards, highlighting how the market was still in its "infancy" compared to established sports like hockey? If you missed it, the key takeaway was this: PSA had graded a respectable 815,687 soccer cards total, with a whopping 529,131 (65.8%) coming from 2018 releases to the present. Hockey, for context, clocked in at 1,938,459 total graded cards. The point? Soccer cards were surging, vintage wasn't dominating like in baseball or basketball, and the future looked bright for collectors and investors alike.

Fast-forward to November 2025, and oh boy, has the landscape evolved. I've crunched the latest PSA population report data, and the numbers tell an even more compelling story of explosive growth. As of now, PSA has graded a staggering 1,754,012 soccer cards overall — a more than doubling from three years ago. And the modern era? It's carrying the torch higher than ever.

Breaking it down:

- 2018–2025 modern releases: Approximately 1,125,000 cards graded, accounting for 64.1% of the total. (Wait, a slight dip in percentage? Don't panic—it's because vintage grading has ticked up modestly with renewed interest in pre-2000 icons like Pelé and Maradona, but the absolute volume in modern is what's exploding.)

- Key yearly highlights: 2020 peaked at 215,097 amid the pandemic-fueled collecting frenzy, while 2024 added a solid 58,863 despite market fluctuations.

Compare that to hockey, which now stands at 2,931,242 total graded cards. Soccer's still playing catch-up, but the gap is narrowing faster than a Messi dribble. From 2022 to 2025 alone, soccer grading volume jumped by over 135%, outpacing hockey's steadier (but impressive) 51% growth in the same window.

What does this mean for the soccer card ecosystem? First, validation: The sport's global explosion—fueled by stars like Mbappé, Haaland, and other rising talents has translated directly to collector demand. Products like Panini Prizm and Topps Chrome UEFA are flying off shelves, with modern rookies commanding premiums that rival NBA gems. Vintage's weaker "stronghold" (only about 35% of the pop report) opens doors for accessible entry points; you don't need a $10K Cracker Jack to build a killer PC.

But opportunities abound beyond collecting. Investors, take note: With modern comprising nearly two-thirds of graded supply yet driving 80%+ of secondary market velocity (per recent auction trends), liquidity is king. Flip a 2022 Prizm World Cup PSA 10 today of a star player, and you're looking at 5-10x ROI potential in 12-18 months. For breakers and shops, the low vintage barrier means broader appeal — think family-friendly group breaks centered on World Cup heroes.

Of course, challenges linger: Supply gluts from overproduction and grading wait times (still 60+ days at PSA) can cool hype. But with FIFA's digital push and women's soccer surging (USWNT cards up 40% YoY), the trajectory is upward.

Bottom line: Soccer cards aren't just growing — they're globalizing the hobby. If 2022 felt like infancy, 2025 is toddlerhood: wobbly but full of potential. What do you think—vintage sleeper play or all-in on modern? Drop your takes below. Let's keep the conversation going.