2025-26 Panini Obsidian Soccer is back for the 7th installment of the product. The format is the same from past year so if you want to know more about the product check out one of my old reviews like 2024-25 Obsidian because not a lot has changed. Despite being a single pack product priced at a mid to high-ed price point, the set never does that well outside the case hits and the full bleed cards.
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2025-26 Panini Obsidian Soccer Breakdown
Checklist – HERE
Box Makeup – 4 autographs or memorabilia cards, 1 parallel, 1 insert or insert parallel, and 1 base per box (Search On Ebay)
Print Run – ~2800 hobby cases
Soccer Cards HQ Review – As you can see the print run is way up from last year. That is not a huge surprise as Panini has been printing a ton of soccer now that they lost the football, basketball and WWE licenses to Topps. This year has the highest numbered base card at /169 which is up from 145 last year. Honestly that doesn’t really all that much because people don’t really chase base or any non full bleed base cards. They have the issue where the non full bleeds all essentially look similar because black is the main color on all the cards. The color is just skinny lines so why pay a huge premium for the lower numbered stuff. I will say they did do a better job this year of making the Blue Finite 1/1s stick out a little more than in the past.
Of the full bleed cards the Contra /9 has always been one of the most popular so of course Panini did away with them this year. To be fair they introduced the Marble Floods last year and they look similar to the Contras since both are mostly white. Panini introduced the Caldera /25 this year as the only new full bleed parallel. The did bring back Talavera and Imperial Jades. I have always been surprised at how little Gold Floods (Search On Ebay) go for considering the design. It just shows the appetite for Obsidian isn’t there.
The case hits are the same as last year, black Color Blasts (Search On Ebay) and Iridescent (Search On Ebay). White Nights (Search On Ebay) appear to be in International boxes again this year. The Color Blast checklist is pretty loaded overall although most of the players playing now have had plenty of black Color Blasts. I did find it funny that Ethan Nwaneri gets a Color Blast. It just shows that a once hot rookie continues to be top of mind for the card companies long after the hype has worn off. The Iridescent isn’t nearly as strong, especially for current players. The good news with Iridescent is that none of the players are repeats from last year. The White Night checklist is strong as well and Lamine Yamal (Search On Ebay) gets his first one.
The auto checklist is highlighted by Lionel Messi (Search On Ebay), Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe. The dual auto checklist is pretty good with some fun ones like Mbappe/Zidane, Zlatan/Van Basten and Messi/Neymar. Obsidian is an auto heavy product with 2 per box. The problem once again most of the designs aren’t great. The Patch cards are the patch cards. Most seem to be unassociated as we have grown accustomed to with Panini.
Panini decided to release boxes at $450 which is the highest it has ever been. Needless to say this year’s boxes are still sitting on the site. Ebay prices are already down to $360/box. As with most products these days be careful of loose boxes if case hits, especially Color Blasts, are what you are chasing. That said I don’t think the case hits are going to help save this with the increased print runs. I have had 2 breakers and 1 other person who have ripped cases say that 2025-26 Panini Obsidian is the worst product of the year. That plus that fact that all of the decent rookies have anywhere from a ton of cards or at least a Panini Prizm FIFA card it doesn’t help. If Panini wanted this set to do well they should have released it well ahead of the World Cup and Prizm FIFA as well. If you are getting involved good luck and I hope you hit what you are chasing.
If you have any questions reach out via social media @SoccerCardsHQ on Twitter, IG and FB. Want to read more about Lamine Yamal Rookie Cards?