UEFA has unveiled a new initiative for the Champions League, which will accompany players during their first official appearance in the tournament and turn that moment into a special collectible memento.
Starting with this season, every player making his Champions League debut will feature a special blue emblem on his jersey, incorporated into the familiar Starball logo on the sleeve. This patch will apply to both players starting in the starting lineup and those on the bench who may be playing for the first time.
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This initiative is the result of a collaboration between UEFA, UC3, and Topps, aimed at highlighting the significance of each player’s debut in Europe’s premier club competition.
After the player’s first Champions League match, the special patch will be removed from the jersey worn during the game. From there, a specific certification process will be followed to ensure its authenticity and provenance.
The patch will be packaged along with a Certificate of Authenticity and then delivered to Topps to be incorporated into an official Champions League trading card.
The final card will feature the actual patch from the player’s debut and will also bear his autograph, creating a unique collectible item directly linked to his first appearance in the competition.
A special debut patch has been introduced for players making their first-ever #UCL appearance! After the match, the patch will be removed from the player’s jersey and placed inside a unique 1-of-1 autographed Topps trading card. https://t.co/jQKYd1xPYA pic.twitter.com/owOIIEg5jL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 2, 2026
