A Guide To 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer

The 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer is set to hit the market for yet another season. Obsidian Soccer perfectly uses sleek black opti-chrome designs to highlight the game’s top players worldwide.

The beauty of Obsidian is that you get stars from top soccer clubs and countries.

You can get cards from the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1 or any of the top leagues. As has been the norm, women’s cards are also included in this Obsidian soccer checklist.

While for the most part, the makeup of the 2024-25 Panini Obsidian Soccer is similar to last year’s set, there are several exciting additions.

This post shall cover everything about the 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer. From its checklist, to the stars to look out for, as well as how this set is expected to perform on the market.

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History of Panini Obsidian Soccer

Panini Obsidian Soccer debuted with the 2019/20 Panini Obsidian Soccer. This was a bold step for the Obsidian brand into the world’s most popular sport.

While soccer had billions of fans worldwide, it hadn’t picked up on the collectable front, and Panini was delivering another premium soccer set.

Before its soccer debut, Obsidian had established itself in football (NFL), basketball, and baseball. Obsidian had a reputation for its sleek combination of chromium technology and dark, high-contrast card designs.

It brought the same signature style into soccer cards, delivering sharp, futuristic visuals and a premium feel.

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The product’s configuration was also hit-focused, delivering four autographs or memorabilia cards in every seven-card box.

Shaiel, in his 2023 Panini Obsidian Football guide, talked about the concept behind the Panini Obsidian brand.

“What was the concept behind the release? Obsidian is an igneous rock that is essentially a nature-made form of glass that comes into being when the most violent lava cools down quickly. It most commonly presents in a jet-black color. However, you can also find the stuff in red and brown.

Sometimes, Obsidian can also have gray, green, or yellow shades. These colors go well together and have served the brand well aesthetically… A final unique element in this release is the etchings. There are often little patterns carved into the cards. This fits well with the concept of a naturally occurring rock created by lava etching its way down the mountainside.”

The 2019/20 Panini Obsidian Soccer release received mixed reviews. While most collectors appreciated its unique and hit-focused configuration, several were hesitant about its higher price point.

However, as more big-name cards emerged and several really impressive sales, the product slowly gained momentum and respect within the hobby.

The 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer marks the sixth consecutive season for Obsidian Soccer. Obsidian has firmly positioned itself as one of Panini’s most anticipated premium soccer products with unmatched high-end appeal.

2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer Release Date

The release date of the 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer is set for 23 July 2025.

This set is scheduled to arrive in the heart of summer, giving collectors a perfect mid-year chase as transfer rumors heat up and preseason tours for Europe’s major leagues kick off.

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2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer release formats

As with previous Obsidian releases, the 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer is a hobby-only release.

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2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer hobby box configuration

• 7 cards per pack
• 1 pack per box
• 12 boxes per case
• 4 Autographs or Memorabilia Cards
• 1 Parallel
• 1 Insert or Insert Parallel
• 1 Base
• Available for pre-order for $449.94.

Luckily, official pre-orders for this product through Panini’s official store haven’t begun yet.

Be on the lookout for an opportunity to secure your boxes at the manufacturer’s direct pricing, typically significantly below the prices currently available on third-party retail websites.

2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer pros

Obsidian has one of the best card designs without a doubt. Year after year, Obsidian has consistently delivered some of the best-looking cards in the hobby.

Even the base cards have a premium, insert-like appeal with their sleek black opti-chrome finish, vibrant foil accents, and dynamic player imagery.

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While Obsidian is still a premium set, it is cheaper than many other high-end soccer sets that guarantee autographs in every box.

Obsidian provides a more accessible option for soccer collectors who want to chase autos and big hits without spending a fortune.

A significant appeal of the 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer amongst soccer fans is its broad player selection.

Unlike league-specific sets such as Select Premier League, Select La Liga, or Select Serie A, Obsidian Soccer isn’t restricted by league boundaries. This year’s checklist features players from all the top leagues worldwide and cuts across both men’s and women’s teams.

Lastly, Obsidian is a really fun product to rip. It typically features a loaded checklist with top veterans, legends, and rookies, making it an exciting hunt for collectors and investors looking for cards with long-term upside. Each box delivers a number of valuable autographs, even autographs of not-so-popular players.

It delivers a really enjoyable break experience while giving collectors a better shot at hitting big-name stars, as they tend to show up more frequently.

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2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer cons

The biggest drawback of this year’s Obsidian Soccer is its price tag. At around $449 per hobby box, this year’s Obsidian soccer is still a significant investment for most collectors. If your autos are duds, you won’t even come close to earning the value of your box back.

Outside of the top case hits, Colar Blast, Flood parallels, and select autographs, many Obsidian cards tend to hold less value on the secondary market compared to other premium products.

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The final problem with the 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer is that, despite containing premium-quality cards comparable with Panini’s best releases, its market values consistently trail behind its basketball and football versions.

Even high-end soccer hits often sell for significantly less than similar NBA/NFL cards. This valuation gap can be felt across all soccer products and is one of the hobby’s most frustrating realities for soccer collectors.

While soccer is the most popular sport today, it has yet to reach the same level of popularity in the hobby.

The 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer checklist

The 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer checklist stays true to Obsidian’s global approach. It highlights a diverse mix of soccer stars from across the world.

Obsidian showcases stars from top clubs and national soccer teams, bringing together talent from all corners of the sport in one sleek, high-end set.

This year’s checklist is broad, featuring over 20 teams including heavyweight nations like Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and the United States, alongside top club teams such as Atlético Madrid and Chelsea FC. There’s a strong mix of legends, established stars, and emerging rookies.

Each box has one base card and one base parallel. The white Contra short print parallels appear once per Hobby case.

2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer Insert

The 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer set offers an impressive lineup of inserts. Collectors can look forward to the return of the Equinox and Supernova die-cuts, both known for their bold, angular designs and dynamic player photography that really stand out in any collection.

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For those chasing the rarest hits, this year’s Obsidian Soccer also includes case-hit inserts such as the ever-popular Black Color Blast, famous for its striking minimalist style and explosive color effects, and the brand-new Iridescent insert, which debuts this year with a fresh, shimmering multi-color design.

One insert (or insert parallel) appears per box.

Panini confirmed more Flood parallels in the refreshed base and insert parallel selection.

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2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer Autograph/Memorabilia

The 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer set offers a strong and diverse lineup of autograph and memorabilia cards.

New this year is Class of ’99, a special autograph set celebrating the 25th anniversary of the legendary World Cup-winning U.S. Women’s National Team.

Among the returning favorites is Lightning Strike, a popular autograph series from some of soccer’s biggest names.

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For collectors who love the combination of game-used memorabilia and autographs, the Volcanic Material Signatures set is another standout in this year’s offering.

This brand favorite delivers an impressive blend of player-worn materials and signatures.

2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer value

At $450 per hobby box, Obsidian boxes do not come cheap. So, are they worth the expense? We’ll consider how well the last 3 Obsidian Soccer sets have performed on the secondary market to answer this question.

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Wax

When investing in sealed wax, the key to long-term value lies in acquiring boxes at their official release price, rather than inflated retail or secondary market prices.

For example, the 2022/23 Obsidian boxes initially sold for around $299 directly from Panini, but prices were significantly higher on retail and reseller sites shortly after their release.

Our 2021-22 Panini Obsidian Soccer review noted that hobby boxes were around $600 at one point on the secondary market, a stark contrast to their original pricing.

If you managed to secure boxes at official prices, the current box values represent some increase over time for collectors. However, if you bought at inflated retail or aftermarket prices, you’d likely be at a loss.

That said, it’s important to state that the current market prices for these boxes are barely double their original official Panini prices. Even the 2023/24 release featuring its “once-in-a-lifetime” rookie class sits at around $649, which is only a modest jump from its $300 official launch price.

Similarly, the 2021/22 Panini Obsidian hobby box is $424, representing just over a $120 increase across nearly four years of holding. This is not an impressive return, especially given the time commitment involved.

In other words, while these boxes have technically appreciated, the growth is underwhelming compared to other premium products in the hobby. I would not recommend storing or investing in sealed wax for Obsidian Soccer long-term.

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Singles

The singles market for Obsidian is not bad. Like most premium products, while you can make a substantial profit, most cards aren’t worth much.

The value of the 2023/24 Panini Obsidian Soccer stands out clearly, thanks to Lamine Yamal. His breakthrough into the global spotlight has pushed his cards to a premium few other soccer stars can match.

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The top singles from earlier Obsidian Soccer releases give a more realistic expectation for the single value of this set. You can hit some really valuable cards from an excellent box.

Bottomline of the 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer Review

The 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer delivers stunning and beautifully designed cards. Without a doubt, Obsidian remains one of the most visually striking soccer products on the market.

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However, while the cards are beautiful and the pack is fun to open, the $450 price demands caution. This is especially considering this set’s “hit or miss” nature.

While you can make a significant profit on a good box, most boxes will result in you not getting the value of your box back.

In summary, the 2024/25 Panini Obsidian Soccer is best seen as a premium set for collectors who can afford it, rather than an investment-grade wax hold.

If you love the design and want to hunt big cards, it’s perfect. However, if value is your priority, considering Obsidian cards from other sports might be the smarter play.

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