Former Soccer Star Shares Passion for Panini Stickers
Even renowned athletes can turn into enthusiastic collectors. Take Alessandro Nesta, a former defender for the Italian national team. He has been collecting the iconic Panini stickers of FIFA soccer icons since he was 17.
“I’ve always been into Panini stickers. I thought, ‘I want to ride one someday.’ And now it’s actually happening. It’s like a dream come true for my family,” Nesta remarked on Thursday at an event in Rockefeller Center dedicated to the World Cup.
The excitement surrounding the World Cup, taking place this week across New York and other cities, is palpable. The event draws a diverse crowd of passionate soccer fans and sticker collectors, Nesta included.
This 50-year-old footballer shared the spotlight with former New York Giants players Eli Manning and Sean O’Hara to launch a two-week fan experience designed to engage the most dedicated traders.
The trio made a brief appearance at the Rock Center ticket booth at 33 W. 50th St. Here, fans can snag sticker packs and albums that celebrate the 48 teams competing in the World Cup. Interestingly, this edition boasts the largest album ever, containing 980 player stickers.
Merchandise, courtesy of FIFA’s exclusive trading card and sticker partner, will be accessible to fans starting Saturday, June 6, and running through July 19.
While Manning, O’Hara, and Nesta eagerly swapped cards, it was evident that one of these athletes wasn’t quite a soccer aficionado. Manning seemed, well, a bit lost in the moment as he shuffled through the cards, more taken by their vibrant designs than by the players themselves.
“I like players in the blue box,” he commented at one point, clearly not quite in touch with the soccer world as he looked through the collection.
Nesta chimed in, pointing out Lamine Yamal, an 18-year-old Spaniard predicted to shine at the World Cup. “He’s special. When he has the ball, he’s just different,” he said, drawing a parallel to Lionel Messi.
Manning’s face lit up, “Wow, I think I just made the best trade ever,” as he flaunted his newest card.
Nesta also speculated that France and Spain would face each other in the finals, with France likely taking home the trophy. Oddsmakers seem to agree, as France prepares to battle Ivory Coast soon.
Manning and O’Hara donned their red, white, and blue attire, gearing up to support the U.S. Manning mentioned plans to take his family to watch France play Senegal on June 16 at MetLife Stadium.
“You have to back your country, right?” he said, acknowledging the uphill battle ahead. Having pulled off some surprising victories before, he seemed hopeful, joking, “It takes that magical play,” referring to his own Super Bowl upsets.
Reflecting on his World Cup experience back in 1998, Nesta recalled the unique atmosphere. The pressure was intense, and he couldn’t sleep the night before Italy’s opener.
“I could feel it all weighing on me, but I knew how much it mattered,” he said. Over his career, he participated in three World Cups, contributing to Italy’s victory in 2006.
After that triumph, the team returned to a sea of fans in Rome, with three million people celebrating in Piazza Navona.
When asked about the celebrations post-victory, Nesta smirked, joking that the team partied hard for three days, but, “I only remember the first three hours.”
“Winning changes everything in your career,” he noted, now living in Miami. “Your life alters entirely.” Manning, already widely celebrated, might experience the overwhelming enthusiasm that a World Cup brings.
“I can’t wait to see the fans come together, singing and waving flags. It’s a whole different energy compared to an American football game,” Manning expressed, adding anticipation to the global aspect of the event.
O’Hara agreed, emphasizing that local kids would witness these legends up close. “They’ll see players from around the globe and think, ‘I want to be like him’ or ‘I want my own Panini card too.’”
