Player mascots at this year's UEFA Champions League Final have been immortalized in a unique set of Topps trading cards, commemorating them just like the players they will walk onto the pitch beside.
Surprise for Young Mascots
Zoe Geoghegan and Sadie Diggin, both aged 9, the two UK Mastercard mascots, were surprised with their very own trading cards. Each card features an image of the girl in their Mastercard Player Mascot kit, which is exclusively worn at every UEFA Champions League matchday, along with what football means to them.
Sadie Diggin, Player Mascot at the UEFA Champions League Final, said: "When I opened the pack, it was such a surprise to see my own face looking back at me! I am so excited to be a mascot at the final, especially as I am an Arsenal fan, and I will make sure I tell whichever player I'm walking out with that I am just like them!"
Topps is the official trading card partner of the UEFA Champions League, and their cards are usually reserved for the biggest stars in the game. However, a limited-edition set of nine cards has been created for mascots from across Europe who will walk alongside superstars at the final in Budapest next weekend. This marks the first time Player Mascot cards have been produced.
Empowering Girls Through Football
Although the players will take centre stage, the mascot spaces at the final are given to vulnerable children from multiple charities, offering them the opportunity to shine and create lasting memories. All girls featured on the cards have participated in the Girls4Football programme, a social impact initiative by Mastercard and the UEFA Foundation for Children designed to empower girls aged 8-16 with football skills and financial education. Over 1,000 sessions have been provided to date in the UK, Hungary, Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, demonstrating how football can be used as a catalyst to improve health, education, inclusion, and personal development.
Zoe Geoghegan, another Player Mascot at the UEFA Champions League Final on behalf of Mastercard, said: "My Dad made me take a picture in the garden a few weeks ago, but I never would have thought it was to make me into a collectible card!"
Mastercard's Commitment
Beatrice Cornacchia of Mastercard said: "The magic of football lives not just in the moments on the pitch... these Topps trading cards celebrate something we believe: that matchday is an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages. By honouring the girls from the Girls4Football programme, we are showing how we are making a positive difference to these children both on the pitch and away from it. That is Priceless."
