Suddenly in the Chrome box: El Mala takes the collecting world by storm | OneFootball

Attention football fans and collectors: Just in time for the season finale, the new Bundesliga Topps Chrome 2025/26 collection is being released – and it brings a very special shine. This year, a new generation of exceptional talents is in the spotlight. One of them is Saïd El Mala. Topps spoke with the Cologne high-flyer about his meteoric rise, the call from the national coach, and the feeling of suddenly being a coveted "Rookie Card" himself.

There are those moments when a life turns completely within a few months. For Saïd El Mala, the last year was exactly such a rollercoaster ride. Just a year ago, he was playing in the 3rd league, and today he is one of the most exciting players in the Bundesliga and a so-called "Chase Player" in the brand-new Topps Chrome Bundesliga 2025/26 collection. This means: He is one of the players whose cards collectors worldwide are most intensely chasing.

The "RC" Seal: A Knighthood for Collectors

In the new collection, which impresses with a completely fresh design and the usual high-quality Chrome technology, talents like El Mala are clearly marked with the RC label (Rookie Card). The special thing: This logo is only available in the debut season. After that, it disappears – which makes these cards extremely valuable for collectors.

For El Mala, all of this is still a bit surreal: "I haven't realized it all yet. You have to pinch yourself a few times for it to sink in," he admits. That people are now opening boxes specifically to look for him flatters him: "It's a nice feeling that people are so crazy about pulling a card of me."

"We Used to Switch and Trade in School"

The passion for Topps is not unfamiliar to El Mala. When asked if he used to collect himself, he answers without hesitation: "Yes, I definitely did. It was rather strange if someone didn't do it." The schoolyards back then were his first transfer market, where cards were "switched and traded."

Today, fans stand at the training ground – but no longer to trade, rather for an autograph on his own card. "Once it got more serious, I thought it would be great if people could pull you or if you could pull yourself," he says with a smile. Especially the on-card autographs of the Chrome Superior series, which sometimes even contain personal inscriptions from the stars, are among the absolute highlights of the new edition.

A Year of Superlatives: From Cologne to the National Team

El Mala's success is closely linked to the power of the Cologne fans: "Nothing works without the fans," he says emphatically. "The energy they bring every week... it's just fun to play for them." This energy carried him all the way to the national team – a moment that topped everything for him.

"I was sitting on the couch with Malek and didn't answer at first because I didn't know who it was. Then I saw that Julian Nagelsmann was on the display – just the number of the national coach."

What Awaits You in Topps Chrome Bundesliga 2025/26

The collection is more than just a hobby – it's an experience. Here are the key points for all hunters and collectors:

The Base Set: Complete Chrome technology for a noble look and feel.

The Parallels: A rainbow of possibilities – from numbered variants to the ultra-rare FrozenFractor to the legendary 1-of-1 SuperFractor.

Hobby Box Highlights: On average, two Chrome autograph cards per box.

Insert Sets & Case Hits: Spectacular designs like Electrified or Wild Jungle as well as extremely rare short prints like Anime and Helix.

Value Boxes: Exclusive Pulsar and Mini Diamonds parallels as well as the new Black Spectrum card (known from Match Attax, now in high-quality Chrome).

Particularly exciting are the 1/1 cards, which exist only once worldwide. El Mala already has a plan for the hunt for the unique card, should someone pull his personal 1/1: "I would offer him a jersey, maybe even a few tickets to the stadium or a football challenge – as long as he gives me the card!"

Moments for Eternity

In addition to the classic cards, Topps also offers real-time collectibles. With Topps NOW, cards of the most incredible moments are released after each matchday, available online for only one week. El Mala would immediately know which moment he would choose: "My goal against Hoffenheim in the first leg. It was my first goal in the starting eleven. That's what I would choose."

And who is on his own wish list? Besides his own card, he has his eye on other top rookies of the season: "Definitely from Diomande, he's also a top player. I think from all those who are now becoming the new Rising Stars, I would definitely want to have a card."

Whether beginner or professional collector: Topps Chrome Bundesliga 2025/26 offers an unparalleled opening experience. Will you pull Saïd El Mala from your next pack? The hunt is on!

Bundesliga Topps Chrome® 2025-26 – Collector’s Guide - Topps Ripped

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.