2017/18 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Hobby Box Break & Review

G-O-A-L!!!!!!!!!!  As someone who enjoys listening to sports broadcasters, its very entertaining to hear them when a goal is made.  Lots of excitement is in their voice.  Especially when 90 minutes is almost up, and someone finally scores.

Topps Chrome Baseball isn’t due out until later this summer, but if you’d like to see what this year’s flagship design looks like on chrome stock right now, I’d give 2017/18 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League a peek.  If the baseball set looks anything like these soccer cards, we’re in for a real treat.  Chrome is king, and having a design that transitions over to chrome stock is important.

The main set consists of (99) cards.  Parallels of the base set include Refractor, Purple Refractor #’ed/250, Blue Refractor #’ed/150, Green Refractor #’ed/99, Gold Refractor #’ed/50, Orange Refractor #’ed/25, Red Refractor #’ed/10, and Superfractor #’ed/1.  These parallels are extremely easy to identify and stand out quite a bit.  As you can see, the parallel coloring is not just limited to the card’s border.  The entire background is a solid color.

A handful of top players have photo variations.  Unlike some other products, these are easy to spot.  Lionel Messi, Christian Pulisic, Neymar Jr., Harry Kane, and Cristiano Ronaldo are the only ones in this group.  From what I’ve seen, all photo variations have a refractor-like coloring to them.  All you have to do is hold out the refractors and check the CMP code on the back.  The CMP code for photo variations ends in #8664.

Autographs fall (1) per box.  Traditionally, sticker autographs aren’t the norm when it comes to Topps Chrome, but given that these athletes are all outside the U.S. it was probably the easier way to go.  Base autograph parallels include Blue Refractor #’ed/150, Green Refractor #’ed/99, Gold Refractor #’ed/50, Orange Refractor #’ed/25, Red Refractor #’ed/10, and Superfractor #’ed/1.

Three inserts can be pulled – Award Winners, Future Stars, and Lightning Strike.  Each come with their share of autographs and parallels.  Award Winners are the most difficult to find (1:108 packs).

For under $70, Topps did a nice job with this product.  UEFA and Chrome fans should really enjoy it.

Here is what I pulled:

Auto

• Neymar Jr. Lightning Strike Auto #’ed/10

Parallels

• Bruno Varela Green Refractor #’ed/99
• Pizzi Purple Refractor #’ed/250
• Pique Purple Refractor #’ed/250
• Jesus Navas Refractor
• Pique Refractor
• Diego Reyes Refractor
• Kyle Walker Refractor
• Dele Alli Refractor

Inserts

• Kylian Mbappe Future Stars
• Marcus Rashford Future Stars
• Leroy Sane Future Stars
• Neymar Jr. Lightning Strike
• Philippe Coutinho Lightning Strike
• Antoine Griezmann Lightning Strike
• Gareth Bale Lightning Strike