Topps Living Set UEFA Champions League offers a mix of UCL stars and legends. Artist Musa Drammeh uses 1977-78 Topps Football as a basis for these illustrated options.

As the name suggests, the Living Set continues with new releases each week, although there is just one card released per player. The only way a player can get a second card is if they switch clubs.

There are now over 450 cards at the current time of writing, featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. 

We’ve put together a list with a trio of the best Topps UCL Living Set cards, along with everything you could possibly need to know. 

The Best Topps UCL Living Set Cards

Print runs differ for each card. Some players have also featured for multiple teams since the set was first released in 2019.

3. 2020 Topps UCL Living Set Jude Bellingham #234 (eBay)

We begin with England and Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham. He’s featured in an RC from the 2020 Living Set, limited to 6,050 copies overall. It might not be the lowest overall print run, but it’s slowly crept up in value over the past 18 months. 

Many have now been graded by the likes of PSA, so gem mint copies are reasonably affordable. It’s unlikely that they’ll stay that way if and when he does make a big money move away from Germany. 

2. 2019 Topps UCL Living Set Erling Haaland #154 (eBay)

Erling Haaland is one of the hottest commodities in the sport. Having been linked with virtually every major European club since making his debut for Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, he signed with Man City.

His cards are often just as popular with collectors, as he clearly has the tools be a generational talent. 

Released a year before Bellingham, his Living Set card might not have an RC logo, but a print run of only 1,988 has helped to drive values in the long term. 

1. 2019 Topps UCL Living Set Lionel Messi #1 (eBay)

Who else could it be? Lionel Messi was where the set began back in 2019, kitted out in the familiar blue and red of Barcelona. (Of course, Messi is also the 400th player featured in the Living Set, after moving to PSG in the summer.)

3,512 is the magic number. While it’s not the lowest print run by any means, that hasn’t stopped graded copies from jumping up towards the $350 mark in recent weeks. It’s not bad for a card that could be picked up directly from Topps in bulk for next to nothing. 

(That’s another reason why you’ll often find groups of 10 or 20 Living Set cards on sale at a time.)

Topps UCL Living Set Cards: Buyers Guide 

We’re big fans of the Living Set, which offers unique cards at an affordable price point. Here are our thoughts on the current state of the market. 

It’s all relative, but the majority of Topps UCL Living Set cards are highly affordable. They make for one of the best beginner sets. Graded copies do add a chase element, and the release does seem to be never-ending. 

Even the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo is affordable. It’s true whether its his Juventus card or the most recent Manchester United option. 

The first ever Messi card has to be the optimal choice, closely followed by Haaland due to the lower print run. Either have to be seen as a canny investment piece over the next few years, as evidenced by their price rise so far. 

Final Thoughts

The Living Set offers a mix of affordability and style. It has a classic design and an outside chance that a card could increase in value if you’re willing to hold onto your collection. 

Some of the biggest names in the sport have already been featured on a card or two, while graded copies aren’t out of reach for the average collector.