Topps has launched the new collection dedicated to UEFA competitions. Pires and Le present

To celebrate the launch of the new line of trading cards dedicated to the three UEFA competitions – the Topps Chrome UCC 2025/26 – the Protein Studios in London hosted an unprecedented immersive exhibition, with two special guests representing the present and future of Arsenal: the 2006 class Myles Lewis-Skelly and the World champion and winner of the 03/04 Premier League Robert Pires. Through the real-time opening of some packages by the two guests, art installations and sensory journeys, the profound narrative value behind each single card emerged: an authentic look at sports collecting as a modern form of expression. The undisputed protagonists are the cards themselves, enhanced by Chrome technology and enriched with unmissable rarities, a symbol of the perfect combination of football passion and very high quality design.

GUNNERS GENERATIONS

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At the Topps Chrome Gallery Lewis-Skelly and Pires put on a show, opening various packages together and chatting with the many enthusiasts present. The Arsenal defender and midfielder born in 2006 arrived shortly before the former Gunners legend; after a few minutes both were surrounded by the crowd present, intent on revealing the contents of some Chrome UCC sachets. Ready, go and immediately a surprise that left everyone amazed: Pires found a rare “Power Players” card from Lewis-Skelly himself in the first package he opened. Between jokes with the fans and with the curator of the exhibition, a great atmosphere was immediately created which involved everyone present. “It’s quite impressive to see yourself depicted on a collector’s card,” said Pires on the sidelines of the event. “It’s a beautiful thing, maybe even a little nostalgic. But it’s nice to see players from different generations mixing like this, football is also this.” An obligatory joke also on Arsenal’s season finale and Calafiori’s season: “If I had to choose between the Premier League and the Champions League, I would choose the Premier League. Even if it’s not over, the away match against West Ham will be complicated. Calafiori? He’s very good. And I’m not saying this because he’s Italian. I like him a lot because he has great quality, good technique and fights. And having a fighter in the team in the Premier League is very important.”

AN EXPANDING MARKET

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The collectibles market continues to grow and attract more and more enthusiasts, an unstoppable trend which in 2025 recorded growth of +37%, representing 13% of the entire toy market (according to data collected by Circana). In this constantly evolving scenario, Topps – Fanatics Collectibles brand and leader in the sports trading card segment – ​​has chosen the vibrant artistic setting of London to reveal the future of the hobby with an unprecedented event. The trading card culture, in fact, came to life on May 7th at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with the inauguration of the Topps Chrome Gallery: The Art of Card Collecting. An immersive exhibition designed to celebrate the launch of the highly anticipated Chrome UEFA Club Competitions 2025/26 collection, transforming the most coveted cards into true large-scale works of art.

AN EXHIBITION WITHOUT PRECEDENTS

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Visitors immersed themselves in unique sensorial journeys inspired by the new line and the compelling stories hidden behind the design of each card. With references to iconic players, past and present, the exhibition manages to merge football storytelling with a passion for collecting thanks to cards, artists, collaborators, partners and international collectors. The beating heart of this journey was articulated through a series of immersive installations, starting with “The Rookie’s Bedroom”, an installation that recreates the bedroom of a teenage Arsenal fan, transformed into a narrative space capable of telling the story of young sporting promises. The visual journey continues with the “Chrome Infinity Box” – a space of reflections aimed at showing the depth and extension of the illusion created by Chrome technology – and with the “Chrome Anime Sistine Chapel”, a majestic suspended ceiling inspired by the inserts dedicated to Anime which, recalling the solemnity of the Sistine Chapel, speaks the language of Manga and contemporary myths. Among the most evocative installations we find “Chasing the Rainbow”, a work inspired by parallel cards, rare variants of the basic cards, and which sees Lamine Yamal as the protagonist. In fact, his paper has been broken down into different colors and it is only by uniting them all, and observing them from the right perspective, that it can be admired in its completeness.

THE NEW COLLECTION

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In this scenario of pure passion, the spotlight has turned on the new Chrome UEFA Club Competitions 2025/26 line – available on the site and at authorized retailers – dedicated to the three prestigious UEFA competitions: Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. Designed with the famous Chrome technology to ensure a reflective finish and visual depth of the highest quality, the collection boasts a core set of 200 cards, which includes the most iconic veterans and new promises of European football. Beginners or experts, every enthusiast will find what they are looking for in this line, thanks to a variety of formats designed for every type of collection. The Hobby Box represents the classic formula, with 20 packs of 4 cards and one autograph per box, including exclusively the Budapest at Night insert dedicated to the host city of the UEFA Champions League final. For those looking for big thrills, the Jumbo Box offers 3 autographs in 12 packs of 10 cards, including the exclusive Black Lazer Autographs. The Delight Box, on the other hand, is a special and concentrated format that guarantees 2 autographs in a single pack of 12 cards, with the exclusive presence of the Geometric Autograph Parallel; while the Hanger Box contains 15 cards, two Exclusive Pulsar Parallels and two inserts. Finally, the retail formats Mega – made up of 42 cards – and Value Box – made up of 28 cards – ignite the search with Metaverse and Bionic cards respectively. From iconic cards autographed by legends of the past to modern promises, each card tells a story of talent and glory. With the new Chrome UEFA Club Competitions 2025/26 line, sports collecting goes beyond the boundaries of the game and becomes a form of expression capable of uniting art and football.