It’s official: MrBeast and KSI have been immortalized in trading cards, ensuring that even when their viral videos fade, their cardboard doppelgängers will live on. In a move that seems both brilliant and blatantly opportunistic, Topps has introduced a limited-run trading card drop for the 2025 Sidemen Charity Match. It’s as if someone decided charity fundraising needed a dash of nostalgic card collecting, spiced with influencer clout.
Let’s first address the elephant on the playground: the cards aren’t just a quick dopamine hit for collectors—they’re also a philanthropic endeavor. Part of the proceeds will go to Brightside and M7 Education, allowing you to indulge your love for collectibles without the usual guilt. Laugh all you want at this clever leveraging of internet fame, but it seems Topps knows exactly how to touch the hearts (and wallets) of the digitally inclined masses.
Now, let’s zero in on one of the headline acts of this event—MrBeast. Known for his absurd generosity and intriguing YouTube stunts, his trading card debut is set to launch like one of his wild viral giveaways. Imagine owning a small piece of the YouTuber who might—just might—decide one day to give a gold-plated jet ski to a subscriber. It’s an absurd idea, fitting neatly with MrBeast’s extravagant persona and resulting in a collector’s item that tingles with potential resale value.
But what about the specifics of this collection? Well, anyone placing their order before April 4th, 2025, is guaranteed a base card. Consider this the appetizer in your trading card banquet. The real stars are the “chase” cards, mementos you’ll likely need a four-leaf clover to snag. These chase cards flaunt the potential for collectability, offering increasingly rare versions like 1-of-1 autograph redemptions and all forms of foil parallels—because nothing screams exclusivity like shiny things.
Picture this: Gold Foil /50 and Orange Foil /25 cards, tempting enough for any collector. Yet, the narrative truly picks up steam when you stumble upon the Black Foil /10 and Red Foil /5. And if you’re a connoisseur of new terminologies, the FoilFractor /1 exists just for the linguistic flair. But wait, there’s more! Topps has also introduced Chrome and Opal Chrome chase cards to satiate collectors’ hunger for unusual collectibles.
The cards scale up with impressive print runs: Chrome at /99 and down if over 50k cards are printed, and Chrome diving to the ultra-coveted /25 to the mystical SuperFractor 1/1 if the count exceeds 100k. For numbers surpassing 250k, Opal Chrome steps in, daring you not to gasp in materialistic wonder. Meet the boss tier of this shiny adventure—the White OpalFractor 1/1—if the printing numbers reach half a million. It’s a strategic game of print run inflation, with the reward being not only a piece of card stock but also a fragment of influencer-dom history.
However, therein lies the twist: these elusive treasures only emerge if enough demand exists. It’s an exciting enticement to bolster print numbers, and ingeniously, a motivational nudge to keep buying. It’s reminiscent of Pokémon cards but with burgeoning influencer branding and an extra splash of complexity.
So what if you do find yourself snatching a 1/1 MrBeast or KSI relic? Apart from being a resounding “flex,” it’s your ticket to holding “extra drip.” The prestige of having a card of someone who turned reacting to viral videos into an art form is an oddly gratifying slice of 21st-century culture.
The clock is ticking on this Topps NOW drop, and like fleeting internet challenges, it will soon vanish. Collectors have until April 4th to decide if they’re stepping into posterity or adding another base card to their growing collection. Once the print run is finalized, the collective sigh or cheer from collectors will fill the digital realm as they evaluate their newest acquisitions.
Oh, lest we forget, this dazzling card phenomenon is tied to the annual Sidemen Charity Match. Since 2016, it has been a quirky mix of sportsmanship and influence, with creators kicking soccer balls and raising millions for UK charities. Now, as an added incentive, shiny cards have joined the fray to delight fans and add an extra layer of appeal to this charitable carnival.
For enthusiasts and opportunists, this tantalizing offering awaits. Whether your motivation stems from a love of pop culture icons or the bustling market for rare collectibles, this card drop has something for everyone. Get your wallets ready, collectors, because the virtual queue beckons.
