David Beckham rookie cards are always going to be an enticing prospect for fans on any continent. 

He made waves in Europe and the United States, where he’s the current co-owner of Inter Miami CF. 

Having turned out for Manchester United, Real Madrid, the LA Galaxy, AC Milan, PSG, and England, he’s also the first First Englishman to win league titles in four countries (England, Spain, United States, France). 

We’ve brought you a roundup with five of the best David Beckham rookie cards, as we head back to before the turn of the millennium. 

The Best David Beckham Rookie Cards

A member of the famous Class of ‘92, Beckham made his debut for Manchester United in the 1992/93 season. 

You’d have to wait a few years for David Beckham rookie cards and collectibles to begin making their way into the market. 

5. 1995 Raven Manchester United David Beckham RC #10 (eBay)

With a supposed print run of just 500 copies, you’d think that the 1995 Raven David Beckham RC would be higher on this list. However, there are some question marks surrounding their legitimacy. For example, Alan Jenkins from the Football Cartophilic Info Exchange is a trusted resource for soccer cards, and has written about this specific set.  

When looking at full sheets containing the whole set, he notes; 

“A sheet similar to this one is currently sitting on eBay listed as Buy It Now for $70,000 (plus $700 shipping) because the seller states that the sheet was printed in 1995 and includes a David Beckham rookie card. Another sheet is listed at £9,999.99. Caveat emptor – nothing could be further from the truth – his collection was issued during the 2000-01 season NOT in 1995. Two of the cards feature Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes and are identified as England internationals, Butt made his England debut against Mexico on 29 March, 1997 while Scholes’ England debut came on 24 May 1997 against South Africa.”

As such, we’d be wary when buying any copies, especially as they lack a serial number on the reverse. 

Check prices of 1995 Raven Manchester United David Beckham RC on eBay 

4. 1996 Pro Match David Beckham RC #158 (eBay)

A classic that features illustrated images of some of the biggest names from the era, the 1996 Pro Match set has a checklist of 225 cards. 

A simple collectible card game, 1996 Pro Match lacks any Premier League/Manchester United branding. 

The Beckham card features the player with his trademark ‘curtains’ haircut, split across the middle. It’s a fun release, with lots of info found on the reverse. 

Check prices of 1996 Pro Match David Beckham RC on eBay

3. 1997 Upper Deck England David Beckham RC #18 (eBay)

Beckham is an England legend, captaining the side while making 115 appearances in total. He held the England appearance record for an outfield player until 2016, when it was broken by fellow United star Wayne Rooney. 

His card in the 1997 Upper Deck England collection is another popular option, especially if it’s been slabbed by one of the major card grading companies. Expect to pay at least $500 for a PSA 10 copy.

It features an action shot of Beckham on international duty, with the ball at his feet. (He’s also wearing his classic number 7 shirt.)

Check prices of 1997 Upper Deck England David Beckham RC on eBay

2. 1995 Merlin’s Premier League David Beckham RC #40 (eBay)

Another classic collectible, and the earliest Beckham RC ever produced, the 1995 Merlin’s Premier League sticker set is iconic. (It was recently used as the basis for the popular 2020-21 Topps Merlin Heritage ‘95 UEFA Champions League set released in March 2021.)

The sticker features a close-up profile shot of Beckham in an old Red Devils kit as he smiles at the camera, with the pitch making up the background.  

Despite being a sticker, it’s valuable as long as it’s in decent condition. A PSA 10 copy recently sold for over $4,300.  

Many of the Premier League ‘96 stickers come with the Shreddies logo printed on the back as they were given away in boxes of the cereal. Otherwise, the front is the same. 

Check prices of 1995 Merlin’s Premier League David Beckham RC on eBay 

1. 1996 Merlin Premier Gold David Beckham RC #92 (eBay)

The 1996 Merlin Premier Gold David Beckham rookie card takes the top spot on this list. 

An iconic photo, 2021 Chronicles Soccer contains a Historic Ticket which uses this exact image. 

It comes from a famous David Beckham goal vs Wimbledon that made the England international into a superstar and is arguably one of the greatest goals of the Premier League era.

Check prices of 1996 Merlin Premier Gold David Beckham RC on eBay 

David Beckham Rookie Cards: Buyers Guide 

What do we think of the current state of the market for the best David Beckham rookie cards?

The Best Cheap David Beckham Rookie Cards

Ungraded copies are cheaper, but we’d be wary if a Beckham card seems too good to be true. We’d stick with graded cards if possible, especially as you’re looking at collectibles released over 20 years ago. 

The Best David Beckham Rookie Card Investment 

David Beckham rookie cards are ideal if you’re looking at retired players to invest in, and we prefer the classic sticker over the 1996 card. Anything released in the 1990’s is a great place to start, while there are a number of popular modern options. 

A number of modern releases have worked out to be reasonably expensive, especially if they have an on-card auto, or a smaller print run. 

Examples include the 2021-22 Donruss Soccer Road to Qatar KABOOM! insert. (The Beckham card is the only KABOOM! insert from the set to feature a retired legend.)

• Check prices of 1995 Merlin’s Premier League David Beckham RC on eBay 
• Check prices of Donruss Road to Qatar KABOOM! David Beckham cards on eBay

David Beckham Rookie Cards: Final Thoughts 

A bonafide legend and a true A-lister, many younger fans never got to see Beckham in his prime. 

More than a hardworking dead ball specialist, he had the ability to win games through sheer determination, and was the consummate professional throughout his career. 

He’s also had more than enough media training, and he’s unlikely to hit the spotlight for anything other than highly controlled PR. 

In other words, Beckham is one of the safer long term investment options within the world of soccer, comparable to other retired greats known across the globe.