As Euro 2024 descend upon us, avid card and sticker collectors are looking to do the near-impossible: complete the Topps sticker album.
The card and sticker collecting is a huge industry with thousands being made off of autographed collectibles and even rare colours of cards or stickers. One person who is considered an expert in this field is GBW – a content creator with 160,000 subscribers on YouTube and a passion for pulling the rarest cards out there.
GBW has dedicated countless hours to his YouTube channel, that boasts videos from opening brand new card collections to completing sticker books and finding ultra-rare autographs that go for thousands in auctions.
We sat down to speak to GBW about his collection and found out the secrets on how to complete your very own Euro 2024 sticker book this year before the tournament is over as quickly as it’s began.
The beginning of a magical journey
We began by asking GBW when he first began collecting stickers and cards – and where he got the idea to start a YouTube channel talking about them.
He said: “I started collecting when I was six years old, with my first collection being the 2006 World Cup stickers. It seems like most people start off with an international tournament sticker set, so that’s why it’s great seeing so many people at the moment kickstarting their Topps Euro 2024 albums as it will bring lots of new collectors to the game!
“I started producing content for my YouTube channel in 2012, where I was mainly making videos about the Topps Match Attax 2012/13 Premier League cards.”
The dream of a complete Euro2024 sticker book – and the secret to getting it
We asked just how he was able to virtually almost complete the newest Euro 2024 sticker book – created by Topps – with its introduction coming at the beginning of April.
GBW explained how it only took him around one and a half boxes of sticker packs to get a good chunk of the book complete – and the rarer stickers are ones you may have to spend time ripping open packs for to get them.
The YouTuber said: “I have opened a lot of packs, let’s just say that, which always helps! Fortunately with the Topps Euros stickers, one and a half boxes gets you well on your way to completing. It’s just the Star Player stickers which are the harder ones to find.
“The Match Attax Euro 2024 cards collection is certainly more of a challenge with the different card rarities, but again I’ve opened a lot of packs and bought some single cards on eBay to help get closer to completing- including the ultra-rare Cristiano Ronaldo Career Celebration card!”
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The content creator also shared his top-secret tips on how to completing your very own sticker book – and the trick is to make friends in similar places.
GBW explained: “Both fan clubs and buying from online marketplaces are great ways to help complete your Euro collections. Back in the day when I wasn’t in a position where I could open lots and lots of packs, I heavily relied on online groups where trading between collectors was a cheaper way to finish off those specific sets.
“Plus it’s always good to interact with people who are all sharing the same interest in collecting the Euro sets!”
The YouTuber added: “Another way is to try and rope one or two of your mates into collecting… that way you can avoid paying postage costs and just rock up to one or the others’ house and set up a swapping session!”
GBW’s favourite cards – and the most sought-after ones you can find
GBW also shared some of his favourite cards he’s ever pulled and hinted at some of the Euro 2024 cards and stickers that could be of a healthy value this summer.
He said: “Wow, tough question! I’ve pulled a lot of BIG cards in my time, both with monetary and sentimental value. Very recently I pulled a Lamine Yamal rookie card, one of the hot prospects headed to the Euros this summer. It was numbered to only 10 in the world, so monetary wise that’s a big one.
“Sentimentally however, it’s got to be from the Topps Premier League Chrome collection, picking up the Charlie Austin ‘superfractor’ from when he was at Southampton.”
Explaining the card, GBW added: “‘Superfractor’ is the name of the parallel which is a 1/1, only one in the world of that card! As a big QPR fan, I was buzzing!”
When it comes to Euro 2024, GBW explained that the Gold Star Player stickers are some of the rarer ones you can spot – with players including Jude Bellingham, Leroy Sane, Scott McTominay and Rodri.
The creator said: “In the sticker collection it’s definitely the Gold Star Player stickers, which also have signature variations found sporadically in packs.
“With the Match Attax cards collection, there’s lots of rare hits to be found like the Cristiano Ronaldo career celebration, Printing Plates, Golden Treasures, and of course real autograph cards – something I managed to find recently for the first time since 2021! As mentioned before, I open a lot of packs, so that truly highlights how rare those autograph cards really are!”
GBW’s favourite cards to open and the best-value packs to get mega-money pulls
GBW has declared his love for a sticker collection and also for a more unusual form of card pulling – the Topps’ Disney Chrome collection. The YouTuber noted that the “nostalgia” that comes from finding your favourite childhood characters is a great way to connect your younger self to your adult hobby.
He said: “I personally love a sticker collection. So I’ve had a lot of fun with the Topps Euro 2024 sticker packs, filling in my album as I go. Same with the Match Attax cards Euros set as well – it’s a lot easier to do this as you don’t need to peel the back of each card unlike with stickers!
“Topps’ Disney Chrome release back in December last year was a groundbreaking one with a lot of collectors bringing nostalgia from their childhood into a hobby they have in adulthood.”
However, GBW has noted that Match Attax cards are an underrated part of the card collecting world as they are cheap and can also bring you a hefty profit. He added: “In terms of value – I do think a lot of people sleep on the monetary value of single Match Attax cards. Because it’s collected by hardcore collectors, they’re out there to complete the whole thing.
“And with cards like the CR7 career celebration being on the checklist, collectors are having to fork out near £100 just for that card alone. Imagine hitting that from a pack costing just £2.50!”
Ronaldo’s farewell – and how you can profit from his likely goodbye to the international game
We discussed how this may well be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final international tournament with Portugal, and how this could impact the card collecting industry.
Of course, Ronaldo is an incredibly sought-after player in this space – but if he does bow out at Euro 2024, potentially with a trophy under his arm, it could spell big money for collectors.
GBW said: “If you get a CR7 1/1 from this Euro’s tournament, you’re looking at big bucks. Firstly because it’s obviously Cristiano Ronaldo. Secondly, as you mentioned it’s his last tournament.
“I’d probably estimate a base parallel card would fetch around the £1000 mark, and an autograph 1/1 probably £2000-£3000. If these cards then get graded by PSA and earn a Gem Mint 10 (this is the highest card grade possible, basically meaning the card is spotless) you could see these figures double if not triple!”
Should I keep my Euro2024 sticker book and card collection to myself for the timebeing?
Lastly, we asked GBW if it was a good idea to keep our sticker books and card collections for a while in order to raise their monetary value – and he was all for it.
GBW said: “100% collectors should keep their collections in mint condition. You’ve seen in the past these old albums which have been completed and kept in good condition fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars in auctions. Plus you never know which player may emerge from this tournament – a surprise story perhaps, something for people in the future to resonate that particular tournament with.
“Take Euro 1992 for example, no one was expecting Denmark to win that, or Greece in ‘04. It just adds that extra bit of collective value when a team who is not necessarily favourite lifts the trophy!”
You can check out GBW’s YouTube channel here and get invested in the world of card and sticker collecting.
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