Ferenc Puskás (1927-2006) is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and was arguably football’s first international superstar.
A prolific forward, Puskás scored 162 goals in 123 international matches for Hungary, and an incredible 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues.
Here’s a roundup with some of the best Ferenc Puskás cards, along with investment advice for the legendary striker.
The Best Ferenc Puskás Cards
Puskas played from 1943 to 1966, going on to become a manager between 1966 and 1993.
3. 1970 Panini Mexico 70 World Cup Puskas (eBay)
For the Mexico 70 collection Panini issued two different sets of cards and stickers. In Italy they produced green back and red/blue cards, and for the rest of the world (international market) they produced red/black cards.
Of course, neither Puskás nor Hungary featured in the 1970 tournament. Instead, they were included in a subset which looked at the history of the World Cup, namely the 1954 final in which Hungary lost to West Germany.
Regardless, it’s a colourful World Cup card showing the player in his prime.
2. 1954 Kosmos Zigarett Puskas/Walter #90 (eBay)
A rare sticker released midway through his career, this set was issued by Kosmos Zigaretten in the Deutsche Nationaelf Fußball Weltmeister 1954 series, to coincide with the 1954 World Cup.
Depicting the pre-game action between West Germany star Fritz Walter of Kaiserslautern and Hungary and Budapest Honved’s Puskás, the latter is included in a number of options from the collection.
West Germany won the tournament outright, although Puskás scored in the final despite carrying a slight injury.
1. 1959 Heinerle Ferenc Puskas (eBay)
Wow. This full bleed illustrated card from West Germany has to be seen to be believed. The 1959 Heinerle Puskás card is part of a vintage set that includes the likes of Pele. (They were originally included with gum, as was the case for many older cards and stickers.)
It’s a clear step above the others in terms of overall quality, while it’s especially rare. It’s arguably his most popular card, showing the player in the white of Real Madrid.
Just one PSA 10 copy exists, and only 33 have been graded by the company. Expect to pay a significant sum to add one to your personal collection.
Ferenc Puskás Cards: Buyers Guide
Puskás cards don’t come up for sale all that often, especially at higher grades. It’s a byproduct of being released over 50 years ago, as there just aren’t many copies that have survived in the long-term.
Take his rookie card, found in the 1946 Nannina collection. It’s almost impossible to locate, and the same goes for the 1950 Bolletje, and the 1954 A & BC All Sport Series.
The Best Cheap Ferenc Puskás Cards
If you’re looking at vintage options, ungraded cards are often the cheapest you’ll find. Of course, there’s always a chance you could be buying a reprint, so be especially careful. The ‘best’ cheap Puskás card overall is arguably contained within the 1954 Kosmos Zigaretten set. After all, he scored a goal in the final of the World Cup tournament that year.
The Best Ferenc Puskás Investment Card
The 1959 Heinerle Puskás card is definitely the most popular with collectors, owing to the age and the scarcity. Of course, it also comes with a premium price tag. It may be out of reach for the average investor.
Ferenc Puskás Cards: Buying/Selling Advice
Puskás is a legend of the sport. He has to be seen as a viable investment option for anyone looking to hold onto football cards in the long-term.
It’s a shame that the current generation of fans may only know him from the FIFA series, or due to being named after the award given to the male or female judged to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or “most beautiful”, goal of the calendar year. (As you may have guessed, Lionel Messi has received the most nominations ever for the Puskás award.)
In any case, it’s hard to do better if you’re on the market for vintage options featuring legends of the game.