Major League Soccer has hit a home run with its latest venture into the realm of trading cards, emulating the buzz created by Major League Baseball’s 2023 Topps Chrome Update. The debut of the 2024 MLS Topps Chrome on December 4 has ignited excitement among collectors, with one of its most coveted cards—a redemption for Hugo Lloris’s Debut Patch Card—already making waves in the community.
The thrilling moment occurred on December 7 at E and J Boutique in Brooklyn, NY, where Andy Wert cracked open a hobby box of the new MLS release and struck gold with the redemption for Hugo Lloris’s Debut Patch Card. Lloris, renowned as one of the finest goalkeepers in history, famously led France to a World Cup victory in 2018 and boasts the record for the most appearances for the French national team with 145 caps. His recent debut in MLS with Los Angeles FC has transformed this card into an instant gem for fans and collectors alike.
Priced at a modest $120, the hobby box contains two chrome autographs per box, but it is the Hugo Lloris redemption card that steals the show as one of the most sought-after treasures in the collection.
The 2024 MLS Topps Chrome release marks a breakthrough for the league with its introduction of Debut Patch Cards, featuring authentic jersey patches from players’ inaugural MLS appearances. Among the 35 Debut Patch Cards showcased in the set are global stars like Luis Suárez of Inter Miami, Emil Forsberg of the New York Red Bulls, and Federico Redondo from Inter Miami. Hugo Lloris’s Debut Patch Card shines as a highlight in the lineup, blending his illustrious international career with his MLS journey.
While the 2023 Topps Chrome Update hobby boxes for MLB have surged to $400 in the secondary market, the 2024 MLS Topps Chrome product remains an affordable option at $120 per box. With several high-profile Debut Patch Cards still circulating, including those of Suárez and Forsberg, collectors are eagerly seizing the opportunity to claim their own slice of soccer history.
The introduction of Debut Patch Cards signifies a significant expansion for MLS trading cards, positioning them as a rising star in the collectibles hobby. By showcasing international talents and commemorating their MLS debuts, the league has tapped into a burgeoning collector base hungry for distinctive memorabilia.
As collectors continue to unveil their packs, the buzz surrounding the 2024 MLS Topps Chrome release shows no signs of waning. With Hugo Lloris’s sensational pull generating headlines, fans are on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the emergence of the next iconic card from this exciting collection.