Cristiano Ronaldo’s most expensive card has just been sold for a record seven-figure sum in a private deal

An ultra-rare Cristiano Ronaldo Panini card has just sold for a massive seven-figure sum, breaking records in a private collector’s deal / Image: Instagram Cristiano Ronaldo has added another non-football record to his name after a rare Panini trading card featuring the Portuguese superstar sold privately for a staggering $1.35 million. The historic sale included Ronaldo’s 2018 Panini Kaboom green card numbered 1 of 1 from his Juventus era and was completed on May 24 through a private sale by Fanatics Collect, according to ESPN. The deal is now the most expensive Cristiano Ronaldo card ever sold and the second-highest soccer card sale in history, behind only rookie Lionel Messi’s $1.5 million card. It also moved ahead of Pele’s famous $1.33 million rookie card sale, which previously became the first million dollar soccer trading card.

Ronaldo’s latest sale has surpassed his previous record for memorabilia within days

The scale of the sale is made all the more remarkable given that Ronaldo’s previous record was set just days earlier. According to ESPNRonaldo’s 1-of-1 numbered 2015 Panini Flawless Finishes Black card sold for $420,000 during the Fanatics Premier Auction on May 22. This card carried a PSA grade of seven along with a perfect autograph grade of 10. Kaboom’s new $1.35 million sale more than tripled that figure almost immediately, underscoring the growing demand for ultra-rare Ronaldo collectibles. The card comes from the Panini Kaboom 2018 multi-sport set, a 50-player edition that was never publicly distributed through standard retail packs. Instead, the cards were issued through Panini’s rewards program. Kaboom cards first appeared in 2013, but Panini introduced the now highly sought-after green 1-in-1 parallel variant in 2018, making it one of the most sought-after modern football card designs in the memorabilia market.

An anonymous buyer has purchased one of the rarest Ronaldo cards ever produced

While the buyer’s identity has not been publicly released, a collector operating under the Instagram handle “cherubcards” later confirmed to The Athletic that they originally acquired the card in March 2024 before eventually selling it through a deal to Fanatics. A collector who goes by the name “cherubcards” on Instagram revealed that they originally acquired the card in March 2024 before eventually selling it through a Fanatics deal. The collector described the purchase as one of the defining pieces in his collection and compared Ronaldo’s mentality to the late Kobe Bryant. “Going to say I was able to get this card to pair with my Kobe Bryant Green Kaboom,” the seller wrote on social media. “They both absolutely achieved their dream careers through talent, but more importantly dedication and discipline. The collector also credited his hobbyist “@pats_pulls” for helping improve the card’s grade from a BGS 9.5 to a Gem Mint PSA 10, calling the process “mission impossible.” The retailer went on to reflect on Ronaldo’s time at Juventus, arguing that period of his career deserves more recognition alongside his successes at Manchester United and Real Madrid. “Time will tell if his career at Juventus should be given the same respect as his career at Manchester United and Real Madrid,” the seller wrote. “A man who was adventurous enough to try different challenges and conquer any challenges he set his mind to. A true champion and legend.”

Ronaldo’s memorabilia market continues to accelerate along with his playing career

The sale comes during another active chapter in Ronaldo’s career, despite the striker now in his forties. Ronaldo recently helped Al Nassr secure the Saudi Pro League title following his move to Saudi Arabia in January 2023. He was also recently named in Portugal’s FIFA World Cup squad for what is expected to be his sixth World Cup appearance. ESPN has also noted the growing gap between the Ronaldo and Messi card markets in recent months. Since August, there have reportedly been at least seven separate sales of Lionel Messi cards that have exceeded $350,000. By comparison, only two Ronaldo cards in history have topped the $350,000 mark, and both sales took place in just the last week.