Topps Champions League 2017

Topps proposed for the Champions League 2016/2017 a completely renovated sticker collection. The album and stickers have a larger size and the release anticipated to compete against Panini FIFA 365. However, the outcome is everything but positive. With the early release, the group composition was not yet known and the play-off qualifying teams are in a separate section, which appears after the regular teams. The number of stickers apparently increased to 592, but considering that all the player stickers are only half size sticker, the real number of full size stickers of this collection is only 312. Moreover, the hardcover version of the album was not released. 

The album opens with the contents and two introductory shining stickers: the Champions League trophy and logo. Then the 22 teams directly qualified to the group stage are shown in alphabetical order. Each team is displaced over two pages with a total of 10 full size stickers: a shiny sticker with the club badge and the home kit, the star player (shining sticker), and 8 stickers including a total of 16 players. 

The play-off qualifying teams are relegated at the end of the album. These 10 teams include 8 stickers each: a shining sticker with the badge and the home kit and 7 stickers with a total of 14 players.

The group composition is included in the "Road to Cardiff" section and it can be completed with the mini-stickers of the clubs included with the album. In this section there is also a shining sticker of the National Stadium of Wales, where the final 2017 was played (Real Madrid - Juventus = 3-1).

The last part of the album presents an overview of the previous season. First the "Final Milano 2016" with 7 stickers of the penalty victory of Real Madrid agains Atletico Madrid. Then the Women's Champions League with the victory of Olympique Lyonnais (one shining sticker) and the UEFA Youth League with the victory of Chelsea (one shining stickers).

The shining club badges of Topps Champions 2017 are only half size sticker each

The Star player sticker of Real Madrid is surprisingly Gareth Bale 

Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic, two protagonists of the final 2017

Album details

Full name: UEFA Champions League 2016/17

Publisher: Topps

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Season: 2016/2017

Release: August 2016

Number of clubs: 32

Stickers per club: 

      -10 for the 22 teams directly qualified at the group stage

      -  8 for the 10 teams qualified though the play-off round

Other sections:

      -Introduction (2 stickers)

      -Road to cardiff (1 sticker)

      -Final Milano 2016 (7 stickers)

      -Women's Champions League 2016 (1 sticker)

      -UEFA Youth League 2016 (1 sticker)

Extra stickers: mini-stickers with club names (included with the album)

Updates: No

Hardcover album: No

Checklist: click here

Total number of stickers: 312 

Panini Champions League 2001

In the Champions League 2000/2001, Bayern Munchen defeated the title owner Real Madrid in the semifinal and the other finalist of the previous season, Valencia, in the final after penalties. 

The official sticker collection Panini of the Champions League 2001 is very similar to the previous one (and the following), with the same grey design and very little variation in the layout. Compared to the previous edition there are 16 teams included instead of 18, but for each team the number of stickers is increased from 17 to 19, with two extra players. Also in this album there are no club badges or other special stickers, but only players and team photos. Each club is displaced over two pages with one team photo sticker and 18 player stickers.

A young Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV) and Carles Puyol (Barcelona)

The stickers of Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane together at Juventus in 2001. They are now two winning managers of Chelsea and Real Madrid, respectively

Album details

Full name: UEFA Champions League 2000/2001

Publisher: Panini

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Season: 2000/2001

Number of teams included: 16

Stickers per team: 19

Other sections: No

Checklist: click here

Total number of stickers: 304

Panini Champions League 2000

The first official sticker collection of the Champions League has been released by Panini for the season 1999/2000. The album includes only 18 teams of the 32 participating to the first group stage. The collection is pretty simple and it does not include club badges or shining stickers. For each team there are 17 stickers displaced over two pages: the team photo and 16 players. Teams are shown following the group order. 

The competition has been won by Real Madrid with a 3-0 (Morientes, McManaman, Raul) in a final against Valencia. At that time there were two group stages, the first with 32 teams divided in 8 groups and the second with the 16 qualified teams divided in four groups. The knock-out phase started with the quarter-finals with the teams qualified from the second group phase.

The winner of the Champions League 1999/2000: Real Madrid

Raul (Real Madrid) and Thierry Henry stickers

First Champions league stickers also for the Brazilians Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos

The stickers of two young rising stars: Xavi and Beckham

Album details

Full name: UEFA Champions League 1999/2000

Publisher: Panini

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Season: 1999/2000

Number of teams: 18

Stickers per team: 17

Other sections: No

Checklist: Click here

Total number of stickers: 306

Panini Brasileiro 2016

After one year in Serie B in 2013 and the celebration of 100 years in 2014, Palmeiras had a fantastic season 2016, winning the Brasileirao title with 80 points. Second place for Santos and Flamengo, both with 71 points. Three players were best scorers with 14 goals: Diego Souza, Fred, and William Pottker. In Serie B four teams were promoted to Serie A (Atletico Goianiense, Avai, Vasco da Gama, Bahia) and four relegated to Serie C (Joinville, Tupi, Bragantino, Sampaio Correa), replaced by Juventude, Guarani, ABC, and Boa Esporte for the season 2017. The season is sadly marked by the Chapecoense tragedy, an aircrash on 28 November 2016, while the team was travelling for the final of the Copa Sudamericana. 

The official sticker collection Panini Brasileiro 2016 starts with an introductory page with a puzzle (3 stickers) of the mascots of the 20 Serie A teams. The teams are then shown in alphabetical order. Each team is displaced over two pages with 16 regular stickers of players, 2 shining stickers (flag/club badge and mascot/uniform) and space for update stickers. These update stickers are named X and Y and were released in further editions during the season. Stickers X are 3 per team and on each sticker there are two players in action not included in the regular set. Stickers Y are composed by three half stickers of new players in action and 2 stickers composing the team photo. Panini released also 20 autograph stickers of 20 Serie A players (one per team). These stickers are transparent and include only the signature. Therefore, they can be glued on top of the corresponding player sticker on the album.

Each Serie B team is on one page including 8 stickers: 2 shining stickers (flag/club badge and mascot/uniform) and 6 player stickers with two players per sticker for a total of 12 players. 

The back cover of the album

After one season without hardcover album, Panini released the hardcover version for the 2016 edition, as previously done for 2011 (very limited edition), 2012, 2013 and 2014

The 20 autograph stickers of Brasileiro 2016

Autograph sticker of Robinho

The two wonder kids of Brasileiro 2016 before their transfer to Europe: Gabriel Jesus (from Palmeiras to Manchester City) and Gabriel "Gabigol" (from Santos to Internazionale)

Robinho and Pablo Guerrero stickers with the corresponding autograph stickers glued on top

Young prospects included (born 1996 or younger)

Serie A: Mateusinho (1998, America MG), Luis Henrique (1998, Botafogo), Jorge (1996, Flamengo), Douglas, Gerson, and Richarlison (all 1997, Fluminense), Everton (1996, Gremio), Gabriel Jesus (1997, Palmeiras), Jeferson (1996, Ponte Petra), Raniel (1996, Santa Cruz), Thiago Maia and Gabriel Barbosa (97 and 96, Santos), Lucao (1996, Sao Paulo), Flavio (1996, Vitoria);

Serie B: Juninho and Luiz Fernando (97 and 96, Atletico Goianiense), Gabriel and Renanzinho (both 97, Avaì), Jonata and Luidy (97 and 96, CRB), Marcilio, Marlon, and Douglas Moreira (97, 97, and 96, Criciuma), Carlos Eduardo (96, Goias), Kadu (96, Joinville), Wellisson (97, Londrina), Basso and Allexson (97 and 98, Paranà), Patrick (97, Vila Nova);

Update stickers (X and Y): Makton (1998, America MG), Giovanny and Yago (both 1997, Atletico PR), Leandro (1996, Botafogo), Guilherme Arana (1997, Corinthians), Dodo (1998, Coritiba), Lucas França (1996, Cruzeiro), Leo Duarte and Felipe Vizeu (96 and 97, Flamengo), Lincoln (1998, Gremio), Gustavo Ferrareis (1996, Internacional), Roger Guedes (1996, Palmeiras), Matheus Jesus and Ravanelli (both 1997, Ponte Petra), Luiz Araujo (1996, Sao Paulo), Everton Felipe (1997, Sport), Caique and Rafaelson (both 1997, Vitoria).

Album details

Full name: Campeonato Brasileiro 2016

Publisher: Panini

League: Brazilian Serie A and Serie B

Season: 2016

Release: May 2016

Hardcover album: Yes

Number of teams: 20 of Serie A and 20 of Serie B

Stickers per team: 18 + 6.5 updates for Serie A and 8 for Serie B

Other sections: Introduction (3 stickers)

Update stickers X and autographs: checklist

Update stickers Y: checklist

Total number of stickers: 650 stickers + autographs (20 stickers)