Top 10 Non-Pele Soccer Cards
 

OK. I got an email from a collector/investor asking about my thoughts on the top 10 best soccer cards outside of the obvious Pele choices. Against my better judgement, I actually decided to answer. After doing so, I figured that I should not give "a knowledge advantage" to a single person (even if this is just my opinion) and - perhaps equally or more importantly - should not assume to have the "right" answers. While I am sure that this will change, here are my "top 10 not Pele" soccer cards in no specific order (without respect to the grade of the card).

More attachments
 

Continued with more cards... would love to hear your feedback

ooops...
 

that was 11. Should I do top 20? Let me know your thoughts!

Top 20
 

Absolutely continue to 20. I will add my thoughts and cards as well tonight. Great post!

ok... on to a few more
 

what do you think of these?

Demarcation?
 

OK... so that was my top 20. I am sure that I could be a bit more sophisticated, if I gave it more thought and study, but these are all decent options that I think I can defend. I just noticed the strong bias towards 1950 and before, with only 3 cards making the cut from after 1950. Perhaps that is a good year of demarcation and another "Top 20" (post 1950) could exist? That would open a few slots in the (mostly) pre 1950 cards above. Which Meazza card should we put it?

Thoughts?

Amazing!!!
 

WOW! Those are some really cool cards. I just love the amazing variety of vintage soccer cards

Most of my collection is Pele and I have only dabbled in non-Pele cards. So I don't actually own any of these cards. I did bid on the really poor condition 1920s Crack Nasazzi that recently was on eBay and got slaughtered compared to how much others were willing to spend on the beat up card.

I'd love to see a back for the Andrade card. I have never seen that one. Can you post a back for it? Also, backs for any other cards with cool, non-blank backs?

I think all 3 of them are worthy specimens. Is one of them considered more of a rookie or harder to find than the others?

Meazza
 

Agreed and fantastic cards--all 3 of the Meazza's are worthy (and i would be really interested to see how SGC was able to date the Editore Scono). The 1927 Lurati would be my call because the Zaini is an "in action" shot (1 other player) and while the Stagni Petazzoni is one heavyweight of a card, the date "1927-29" is likely not correct as the Ambrosiana part of the Inter name didnt come about until 1928.

This is truly a world class lineup Al--I just dont know that i would have many that i would add pre-1950 (there are a couple I may remove). There will be a few but like you suggested most will be post 1950.

While a far cry from most of the gems above I would think this card would need to be included in any discussion. More to come..

top 10 soccer cards (no Pele)
 

That's a mighty fine selection, Al.

I might put together a list too. I like the South American and Italian issues.

Honorable Mentions
 

Without a lot of time invested into statistics/rarity etc these are a few I could come up with. I would say an early Bloomer should at least be considered as well.

From top and left to right:

1958 Balas Garrincha
1938 Brazilian Team Postcard w/ Leonidas
1939 Kicker Fritz Walter
1974 Ageducatifs Michel Platini
1915 Chocolate Amatller Pichichi
1933 Cioccolato Dolomiti Silvio Piola (Serie A top scorer)
1992 Panini Zidane
1983 Panini Marco Van Basten
1999 Gremio Ronaldinho

Only because I have it, probably too common for you sophisticates.:eek:

I like your choices, there are some amazing cards there. I love that Sindelar, I have a Bulgaria and Konig but no Greiling yet. Likewise I have a few other Meazza and Mazzola but I've been foiled on past attempts to pick up their key cards, I also stupidly missed out on a Circus Girl GO Smith auction this week due to an overrunning appointment.

I guess the question is whether is whether you interpret a top 10 as "grail cards" weighted towards rarity and significance of the issue or towards including top players and recognisable, iconic cards for people new to the hobby.

Going for the second interpretation I'd go for this as a top 10

1946 Monte Cudine Di Stefano
1947 Naninina Puskas
1956 Vecchi Garrincha
1963 Panini Eusebio
1964 Barratt A12 Best
1968 Palirex Cruyff
1974 Ageducatifs Platini
1977 Futbol Maradona
2002 Mega craques Ronaldo
2004 Megacracks Messi

Yes it's boring, many are not especially rare, some aren't true rookies, some might argue discs aren't cards and I remember reading somewhere there are doubts about the authenticity of the Monte Cudines (if someone knows more about this I'd love to hear). It's a shame but a lot of fans are not interested in pre war players, perhaps Dixie Dean and Meazza come closest. Even here in England the vast majority of fans have never heard of the likes of GO Smith, Meredith, Bloomer, Needham, etc you'd probably just know the ones from the club you support.

The list should include players that are well known around the world. Players like Dixie Dean, G.O. Smith and Billy Meredith are known only in the UK. Here is my list:

- 1946 Monte Cudine Alfredo Di Stefano
- 1947 Nannina Ferenc Puskas
- 1963 Panini Eusebio
- 1964 Barratt George Best
- 1968 Sicker-Verlag Suurbier/Cruyff
- 1974 Ageducatifs Michel Platini
- 1977 Futbol Arg Jrs. Discs Diego Maradona
- 1992 Panini Zinedine Zidane
- 2003 Panini Mega Craques Ronaldo
- 2004 Panini Mega Cracks Lionel Messi

***PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR FAKES!***

Wouldn't Beckenbauer be on any short list, I thought he was a consensus at least top 5 player?

Unfortunately defenders never get the credit they deserve. Beckenbauer, Moore, Baresi, Maldini, Facchetti all brilliant but always looked over. It's crazy how their cards are valued compared to attacking players. Someone like Elias Figueroa won South American footballer of the year three times in a row, just after Pele and just before Zico, yet is almost completely unknown.

Yep, it's like that in all the sports.

Agree....
 

It is a shame, but true everywhere. Occasionally you get a "stand out" like Reggie White in football or Ozzie Smith in baseball or Dennis Rodman in basketball, but they are still never giving the place of the offensive players. I would put Beckenbauer in that group though.

OK....
 

I have noticed a trend in most of the lists posted that feel that many more "modern" cards should be added, so I will try to add to that with my "Top 20" modern cards. For those who like "vintage" we can focus that conversation here. For those that like modern, we can have that discussion on another thread. I agree with some of the comments about player knowledge, but that has not always been the only determinant of card attractiveness. I know many "baseball fans" who do not know who Wagner or Josh Gibson where... so carving out Meazza or Meredith or GO Smith just for name recognition is not enough for me to exclude them from my lists. All of the cards that I have shown are pretty special (the story around the 1914 London Mixture Taddy Meredith, or the scarcity of the Circus Girl cards). Anyway..... to each their own....

Where did you see the GO Smith Circus Girl?!?!?
 

OMG, would have loved to pick another one up!!!!

Sorry... blank back....
 

So there is nothing to show. I have the entire team, that that is why the date can be placed to 1928 (Olympic team).

Bobby Orr got more than a little recognition, no?

Orr at his peak was the best offensive player in the world...even as a defenseman (see 2 Art Ross Trophies).

There has never and will never be a defender in football who is the best attacking player.

Defenders and goalkeepers, while critical to any team’s success, are not considered the most talented players. In a sense, they play anti-football rather than football; football is about movement, controlling the ball, passing, dribbling, finishing, etc and defenders and keepers attempt to disrupt that.

good point...
 

can we name a lot more? there may be a handful.... across all sports and all time... my point is that they are the super exceptions...

It came up in a UK auction house, went for £360, kicking myself as I had registered to bid but something came up that meant I missed it.

Yes I agree, was just surprised because no one had named the most obvious exception.

Football the Butkus RC is pretty popular also.

I don’t know about his cards but, in terms of English players, Moore would be as iconic as any forward. For example, Geoff Hurst scored the famous hat trick as England defeated West Germany in the 1966 World Cup Final but Moore is still viewed as the legend of that team and the image of him wiping his hands clean using his shirt before he shook hands with the Queen just before lifting the Jukes Rimet trophy is legendary.

Certainly, in terms of match worn items and autographs, Moore would be very collectible - albeit his autograph tends to be more rare simply because he died in 1993 which is much earlier than most players of his era.



Great to see George Best pictured in this thread. A legend across the island of Ireland. Today, at Windsor Park (the Northern Ireland National Stadium), a bronze statue of Best was unveiled. Had he been alive, today would have been his 73rd birthday:


https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...-38137819.html

Very cool perspective from across the pond
 

I remember hearing somewhere a quote along these lines: "Pele was Great, but George was the Best"...

Cute play on words, but to consider him at that level certainly means something. I included what I believe to be the BEST George Best card and Bobby Moore card on my "Top 20 or so non-Pele" post 1950 thread.

Reading this again... and....
 

I really like the list.... I cannot argue with any of these...

Meazza 1926 green card SGC slabber got it wrong, it's a 1930+ card
 

Compliments to Al, some very nice cards but the Meazza "1926-27" green-hued card...! Well, the SGC slabber got it wrong. It's a 1930+ card. Here's an extract from my Twitter page on a similar card, combined with a Facebook post on my FB page, "Football Cards & Soccer Stickers,vintage sports card collecting & investing" today. https://scontent-mxp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...03&oe=5EA9FE78

Meazza 1926 Green Tint
 

Can you post a link to the twitter or Facebook page? Can you identify what kit he is wearing? I would love to see any and all information on this card as it has been a mystery for me for a while. The card may very well be a 1930's but it has got to be about the youngest looking Pepino I have seen on cardboard. From the Italian card collectors, and from the Giuseppe Meazza Facebook Page, the kit could be from the Inter Youth Academy from as early as 1924-27. However, even if true the card could have still been produced in the 30's.

Yes Carl....
 

Yes Carl... it would be helpful to have your link....

Too bad there's no Lev Yashin cards mentioned. The Black Spider has some interesting ones.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KjyCgoOhlC...2B-%2B008a.jpg

Not mine, just think it is cool

Honorable Mention 2001 Tim Howard's Rookie Card I had got these from the Metro Stars packs given out for free and have a complete set of the Metro Stars