Darwin Nunez is one of the bigger talents to emerge from South America in recent years, both literally and figuratively.  

The Uruguay international joined Liverpool in 2022/23 with a huge price tag, having scored an impressive stream of goals at every level he has played at so far. He started his career with Peñarol in Uruguay, joining Benfica in 2020 by way of Spanish Segunda Division club Almería.

In his second season in Portugal, Nunez won the Bola de Prata for top scorer in the Primeira Liga with 26 goals in 28 games, which caused Liverpool to come knocking. At the time of writing, he’s still only 23. 

Here’s a rundown with five of the best Darwin Nunez rookie cards to collect, including cheaper options and the rarest parallels. 

The Best Darwin Nunez Rookie Cards

Darwin Nunez rookie cards were released during the 2020/21 season, in his first year with Benfica.  

5. 2020-21 Topps Match Attax Darwin Nunez RC #HT1 (eBay)

We’ll begin with an affordable option from 2020-21 Match Attax sets. Rather than the base card, we’re looking at the Hat-Trick Hero parallel. (In October 2020, he scored his first goals for the club with a hat-trick against Lech Poznań in a 4–2 away victory in a 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage match.)

However, Match Attax isn’t the most popular Topps soccer set, arguably due to the amount of distractions found on the front of the card. 

Check prices of 2020-21 Topps Match Attax Darwin Nunez RC on eBay 

4. 2020-21 Topps On Demand Darwin Nunez RC (eBay) 

If you’d prefer the earliest Darwin Nunez RC, the 2020 UEFA Champions League Summer Signing set featured the player in the Rising Star subset. The collection contains one numbered parallel per box, including players such as:

• Timo Werner
• Jude Bellingham
• Kai Havertz
• Weston McKennie

However, there are no Nunez parallels contained within the collection. It’s still more valuable than the Match Attax card seen above. 

Check prices of 2020-21 Topps On Demand Darwin Nunez RC on eBay 

3. 2021 Topps Now Darwin Nunez #43 (eBay)

2021-22 Topps Now UEFA Champions League is an online-exclusive set, with various cards that could be purchased individually from the website. 

Topps Now tends to have low print runs, and this Nunez release is no exception. Only 346 copies were produced, which is one of the main reasons why you’ll find them selling for at least $100 a year later. Many copies have also been sent off for grading, to the likes of PSA or BGS. 

Check prices of 2021 Topps Now Darwin Nunez RC on eBay 

2. 2020-21 Panini Futebol Darwin Nunez RC #52 (eBay) 

If you don’t mind stickers, 2020 Panini Futbol is where you’ll find this early Darwin Nunez collectible. As with the others, it focuses on his time with Benfica in Portugal, with a small nameplate for basic information found at the bottom. 

Graded options are reasonably expensive, although ungraded stickers can still be found for less than $20. There are thousands on the market, possibly because they are still being printed on demand by Panini Portugal. 

It’s supposed to be to help collector’s finish their sticker books, but it’s worth mentioning regardless. 

Check prices of 2020-21 Panini Futebol Darwin Nunez RC on eBay 

1. 2020 Panini Obsidian Darwin Nunez RC #36 (eBay)

The sole Darwin Nunez rookie card found within 2020 Panini Obsidian sets, it’s hard to do better if you’re looking for the most popular option featuring the Liverpool forward. 

With base cards limited to just 195 copies, there are numerous Electric Etch parallels which up the stakes in terms of rarity and value. It comes with an RC logo in the top corner, and features an eye-catching background that will change color depending on the parallel. 

• Parallels: Purple #/75, Orange #/50, Blue #/30, Red Flood #/28, Red Pulsar #/28, Green #/25, White Pulsar #/11, Yellow #/10, Contra #/9, Red #/5, Blue Finite 1/1

Check prices of 2020 Panini Obsidian Darwin Nunez RC on eBay 

Darwin Nunez Rookie Cards: Buyers Guide 

What do we think of the current market for the best Darwin Nunez rookie cards? 

If you’re looking for entry level rookie cards, you’re spoiled for choice. Anything other than the 2020 Obsidian card should be within reach for the average collector. We also like the Topps Now release, especially considering the miniscule print run. 

The best investment option has to be the Electric Etch RC. It’s rare, it comes from a premium set, and it’s the most valuable Nunez RC by a fair margin. We expect it to hold the highest prices when all is said and done. 

Darwin Nunez Rookie Cards: Final Thoughts 

Liverpool have a big worldwide following, with past success supplemented by more recent European glory. There’s an army of fans who would be interested in the best rookie cards featuring their expensive new forward. 

Darwin Nunez certainly has the requisite skills needed to succeed in the Premier League. He’s big, explosive, and powerful in the air. Unlike other traditional strikers, Nunez is known for his ability to run with the ball, cutting inside from the left to shoot at goal, often aiming to curve the ball inside the far post. 

If he manages to lead the line well for his new side, his rookie cards look to be a good investment over the next few years.