Born: August 17, 2003 Birthplace: Lyon, France Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) Position: Attacking Midfielder/Winger Club: RB Leipzig Nationality: French
Rayan Cherki is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted prospects to emerge from France in the last decade. A product of the legendary Olympique Lyonnais academy, Cherki made his professional debut at just 16 years old. Known for his elite dribbling and being genuinely ambipedal, he has been a “hobby darling” since his first cards appeared on the market in 2020.
Why Collectors Are Watching
Cherki’s card history is unique because his first licensed cards appeared two years before his official RC badge sets. His total numbered supply is just over 2,014 cards with only 3 true 1/1s — almost entirely concentrated within the 2021-22 Topps Merlin UEFA product. This is remarkably tight scarcity for a player of his profile, and one of the cleanest rookie markets in modern French football.
Card #1 — 2019-20 Topps Now UEFA Champions League #077 (True First)
Type: Trading Card (Print-to-Order)
RC Badge: No (XRC)
Release Date: August 2020
This is the absolute first licensed card of Rayan Cherki — commemorating his early Champions League appearances at age 16. While it does not carry an RC badge, it is considered his “XRC” and is a foundational piece for any Cherki collection.
Collector Note: This card predates his official RC by two years. Collectors who understand the full timeline know this is the starting point of his licensed card history — not the 2021-22 Merlin. It’s the rarest Cherki card to find in pristine condition.
Card #2 — 2020-21 Early Domestic Releases (Pre-RC)
Type: Sticker / Adrenalyn XL
RC Badge: No
Serial Numbered: No
Before his official hobby rookie year, Cherki appeared in several mass-market sets in France. These are the earliest domestic items available:
| Card | Set |
|---|---|
| 2020-21 Panini Foot Stickers #208 | Foot Stickers Ligue 1 |
| 2020-21 Panini Adrenalyn XL Ligue 1 #149 | Standard |
| 2020-21 Panini Adrenalyn XL Ligue 1 #416 | Diamond version |
Card #3 — 2021-22 Topps Merlin UEFA Base Rookie #59 (Flagship RC)
Type: Trading Card
RC Badge: ✅ Yes
Release Date: September 14, 2022
The official flagship rookie card — carries the RC badge and represents the gold standard for Cherki collectors. Topps Merlin is highly respected for its design and scarcity, making these parallels the most sought-after in his catalog.
Numbered Parallels
| Parallel | Print Run |
|---|---|
| Pink Mojo | /275 |
| Atomic | /250 |
| Yellow Wave | /225 |
| Aqua Speckle | /199 |
| Aqua | /199 |
| Speckle | /150 |
| Green Mojo | /99 |
| Green | /99 |
| Blue Shimmer | /75 |
| Blue | /75 |
| Gold Atomic | /50 |
| Gold | /50 |
| Orange Mojo | /25 |
| Orange | /25 |
| Purple Wave | /15 |
| Purple | /15 |
| Red | /10 |
| Red Wave | /5 |
| SuperFractor | 1/1 |
Total: 1,842 | 1/1s: 1
Card #4 — 2021-22 Topps Merlin UEFA Inserts
Type: Insert Cards
RC Badge: ✅ Yes
| Insert | Key Parallels | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Renaissance #R-9 (Case Hit) | Red /10, SuperFractor 1/1 | 11 |
| U23 Stars #U23-5 | Gold /50, Orange /25, Red /10, SuperFractor 1/1 | 86 |
The Renaissance is a legendary “Case Hit” style insert — highly coveted for its artistic design and extremely low pull rates. Only 11 total numbered copies exist.
Card #5 — 2022-23 Score Ligue 1 #89 (Additional Rookie Era Release)
Type: Trading Card
RC Badge: Rookie-style labeling (not first RC)
Important note: The Score Ligue 1 set came out in March 2023, after the Merlin RC. It is best viewed as an additional rookie era release — important for the checklist, but not ahead of the 2019 Topps Now or 2021-22 Merlin in the timeline.
Numbered Parallels — Score #89
| Parallel | Print Run |
|---|---|
| Red Swirl | /65 |
| Blue Laser | /60 |
| Bronze Swirl | /55 |
| Pink Swirl | /45 |
| Orange Lasers | /35 |
| Silver Swirl | /25 |
| Purple Lasers | /15 |
| Gold Swirl | /10 |
| Black Swirl | 1/1 |
| Black Lasers | 1/1 |
Total Rayan Cherki Numbered Supply
| Set | Total Numbered | 1/1s |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 Topps Merlin Base | 1,842 | 1 |
| Merlin Renaissance #R-9 | 11 | 1 |
| Merlin U23 Stars | 86 | 1 |
| Other 2021-22 releases | ~75 | 0 |
| TOTAL (excl. Score) | 2,014 | 3 |
Collector Insight
Rayan Cherki’s hobby scarcity is remarkably tight. His primary market is almost entirely concentrated within a single product — 2021-22 Merlin UEFA — with the Renaissance Case Hit insert adding just 11 extra numbered copies at the premium tier. With only 2,014 numbered cards and 3 true 1/1s across his core RC market, this is one of the most focused rookie markets for any modern French prospect. His move to RB Leipzig and increasing senior national team involvement will only add to collector demand.
Total Numbered Rookie Cards: 2,014 | One-of-Ones: 3
