There’s a massive World Cup update that has flown completely under the radar. On top of the standard World Cup sleeve patches, FIFA has introduced special, custom patches celebrating individual players who made history in past tournaments. These patches are divided into different categories. First-timers will rock the Debut Patch, while veterans with at least 5 World Cups under their belt, like Messi and Ronaldo, will wear the Legacy Patch. Beyond appearances, there are also performance-based patches honoring past achievements, like former Golden Boot and Golden Glove winners. This concept is heavily inspired by American sports like the NFL and MLB, where jersey patches are already a staple. While some fans might see this as a minor detail, it’s going to be an absolute holy grail for collectors. But here’s the catch: collectors will have to wait for the current FIFA x Panini deal to expire before @topps officially takes over in 2031. However, Topps, the leader in physical and digital trading cards, is already playing the long game. After each match, these special patches are removed from the players' match-worn shirts, preserved, and set aside to be embedded into future autographed trading card packs! World Cup card collecting is about to reach a whole new level, with patches from stars like Ronaldo, Messi, and Yamal turning into genuine high-value assets. To put things into perspective, Paul Skenes’ debut patch sold for a staggering $1.11 million last year. What do you think of this initiative? #worldcup #messi #ronaldo #mbappe #yamal - @offthepitch_archive