When we talk about U.S. Soccer hobby icons, Christian Pulisic is the benchmark.
He was the first American prospect whose rookies truly felt global — released across multiple Panini lines, packed with parallels, but still surprisingly controlled compared to today’s print era.
What collectors often miss:
- 2,325 total numbered rookies
- 604 numbered autographs
- 9 true 1/1s across the entire run
Considering his Champions League history, World Cup moments, and current form — his rookie market remains strong but not bloated, which is rare for a U.S. star.
Panini Instant (June 11, 2016)
Card #32 — “Copa Teenager Stays Busy at Semi-Sweet Summer Job”
- Base — /99
- Green — /25
- Blue — /5
- Black — 1/1
TOTAL: 130
Product: PANINI INSTANT
Donruss (Aug 17, 2016)
Card #224 — Donruss Debut
- Press Proof Die-Cuts — /149
- Canvas — /49
- Mosaic — /15
TOTAL: 213
Product: DONRUSS
BLACK GOLD (Oct 18, 2016)
Base Set — Card #5
- Bronze — /99
- Uncommon — /75
- Rare — /35
- Black Gold — 1/1
TOTAL: 210
CATEGORY: BASE
Autographs — Card #10
- Bronze — /49
- Holo Gold — /25
- Black Gold — 1/1
TOTAL: 75
CATEGORY: AUTOGRAPHS
Stars Medallions — Card #28
- Holo Gold — /50
- Black Gold — 1/1
TOTAL: 51
SELECT (Dec 30, 2016)
This is where Pulisic rookies explode — multiple levels, multiple inserts, autos, patches.
Mezzanine — Card #150
- Light Blue Prizms Die-Cut — /249
- Purple Prizms Die-Cut — /149
- Neon Green Prizms Die-Cut — /60
- Tie-Dye Prizms Die-Cut — /30
- Camo Prizms Die-Cut — /20
- Gold Prizms Die-Cut — /10
- Green Prizms Die-Cut — /5
- Black Prizms — 1/1
TOTAL: 524
INSERT: MEZZANINE
Field Level — Card #287
- White Prizms — /99
- Copper Prizms — /49
- Tie-Dye Prizms — /30
- Camo Prizms — /20
- Gold Prizms — /10
- Green Prizms — /5
- Black Prizms — 1/1
TOTAL: 214
INSERT: FIELD LEVEL
Emerging Star — Card #15
- Silver — /149
- Orange — /75
- Neon Green Die-Cuts — /60
- Copper Prizms — /49
- Tie-Dye — /30
- Gold Prizms — /10
- Green Prizms — /5
- Black Prizms — 1/1
TOTAL: 379
INSERT: EMERGING STAR
Jersey Autographs — Card #15
- /99
- White /90
- Neon Green /49
- Tie-Dye /15
- Gold /10
- Green /5
- Black 1/1
TOTAL: 269
CATEGORY: JERSEY AUTOGRAPHS
Signatures — Card #14
- /75
- Orange /60
- Neon Green Die-Cuts /49
- Copper /35
- Tie-Dye /25
- Gold /10
- Green /5
- Black 1/1
TOTAL: 260
CATEGORY: SIGNATURES
SELECT TOTAL
1,646 numbered rookies across Select
(including inserts + autos)
FINAL SUMMARY (Rookie Year Only)
Total Numbered Rookie Cards: 2,325
Numbered Autographs: 604
True 1/1s: 9
For a player who:
- won the Champions League
- captains the U.S.
- remains a face of the national hobby
…this is one of the cleanest, most collectible rookie portfolios in modern soccer.
“Didn’t Make the Cut — Not Rookies in My Book”
This part is important, because it explains to collectors why certain 2017 cards look like rookies — but actually aren’t.
Below is a clear write-up that matches the slides you posted and keeps the same Rookie-Report tone.
Why These Do NOT Count as True Rookies
Christian Pulisic’s true rookies were released in 2016.
Everything below came AFTER his rookie year, and most of them were:
- follow-up releases
- inserts
- re-prints
- post-rookie tribute sets
- convention exclusives
They are fun cards… but NOT rookie cards.
June 14, 2017 — Panini Revolution
#31 — Revolution Base Parallels
- Cosmic /100
- Magna /49
- Disco /25
174 numbered
#A-CP — Revolution Vortex Autograph
- /49
- /25
- 1/1
75 numbered
#OTR-19 — “On The Rise” Insert
- Cosmic /100
- Magna /49
- Disco /25
174 numbered
#V-20 — “On The Rise” Vortex
- Magna /49
- Disco /25
- Vortex Kaleido 1/1
75 numbered
May 17, 2017 — Topps Champions League
#25
- Gold /99
- Red /25
- Black /5
- Champions 1/1
130 numbered
Total for This Release (Non-Rookie)
628 numbered cards
July 23, 2017 — National Convention Exclusives
#59 — Rookies Set
- Serial /399
- Rapture /99
- Rainbow Spokes /49
- Escher Squares /25
- Pyramids /10
- Galactic Windows 1/1
583 numbered
#CP — Memorabilia
- Rapture /49
- Rainbow Spokes /25
- Escher Squares /10
- Pyramids /5
- Hyperplaid 1/1
90 numbered
#86 — VIP Parallel
- Cracked Ice /25
- Gold Wave /15
- Green Shimmer /5
- Black Mojo 1/1
46 numbered
#86 — VIP Auto
- Red /25
- 1/1
26 numbered
#86 — Nationals VIP
- Red /25
- 1/1
26 numbered
Total from National Convention
771 numbered
Aug 26, 2017 — Aficionado
#41 — Base Set
- Artist Proof Red /99
- Artist Proof Bronze /49
- Artist Proof Gold 1/1
149 numbered
#182 — Global Reach
- Artist Proof Red /99
- Artist Proof Bronze /49
- Artist Proof Gold 1/1
149 numbered
#25 — First Impressions Auto
- Base /40
- Artist Proof Red /30
- Artist Proof Bronze /20
- Artist Proof Gold 1/1
91 numbered
Total Aficionado
389 numbered
June 19, 2017 — Panini Father’s Day
These cards are promotional exclusives, not true rookies.
Base / Materials / Autos Most parallels fall into:
- Cracked Ice /25
- Hyperplaid /10
- Lava /5
- 1/1 promos
Total varies heavily by format — but NONE are rookie cards.
Aug 25, 2017 — Panini World Cup Tribute
Multi-relics, patches, and inserts celebrating USA players.
- Patch variations
- Dual relics
- Autos in some cases
Again — cool cards, but post-rookie.
Oct 6, 2017 — Panini Noir / Iconic
High-end set, premium patches, autos.
- Gold /49
- Red /25
- Platinum 1/1
These are beautiful cards — but firmly year-two products.
Nov 24, 2017 — Panini One Team/Team Sets
Retail & commemorative national team sets.
- Mostly low-number patches & parallels
- Often mistaken for rookies
- But released more than a year after his first appearance
Nov 27, 2017 — Panini Base Set (Retail)
Basic entry-level product — team-themed.
- Silver /99
- Blue /49
- Gold /10
- Black 1/1
Still not rookies.
2018 — The Flood Begins
By 2018, Panini started printing:
- Immaculate
- Higher-end autos
- Patch autos
- Tribute cards
These sets mark the “established star” phase, NOT rookie era.
Key Takeaway for Collectors
Even though these cards are:
- early career
- rare
- sometimes expensive
they came AFTER his true rookie year
they belong in “Early Career” — NOT “Rookie” categories
And that’s why…
