The most expensive trading cards ever sold
61 documented sales across Pokémon, sports cards and Magic: The Gathering - ranked by price, in sterling, each with its grade, date, venue and source. Documented sales only; no estimates.
| # | Card | Hobby | Grade | Price (£) | Sale ($) | Date | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Pikachu Illustrator | Pokémon | PSA 10 | £12.2m | $16,492,000 | Feb 2026 | Goldin Auctions | Guinness World Records |
| 2 | 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Logoman Kobe Bryant / Michael JordanBasketball | Sports | PSA 6 | £9.6m | $12,932,000 | Aug 2025 | Heritage Auctions | Heritage Auctions |
| 3 | 1952 Topps Mickey MantleBaseball | Sports | SGC 9.5 | £9.3m | $12,600,000 | Aug 2022 | Heritage Auctions | ESPN |
| 4 | 2026 Topps Chrome Dual Gold Logoman Shohei Ohtani (1/1)Baseball | Sports | 1/1 | £8.1m | $11,000,000 | Jul 2026 | Private sale | ESPN |
| 5 | 2006-07 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Logoman Michael Jordan / LeBron JamesBasketball | Sports | PSA 5 | £7.4m | $10,000,000 | Oct 2025 | Private sale | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 6 | 1909 T206 Honus WagnerBaseball | Sports | SGC 2 | £5.4m | $7,250,000 | Aug 2022 | Goldin Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 7 | 1914 Baltimore News Babe RuthBaseball | Sports | SGC 3 | £5.3m | $7,200,000 | Dec 2023 | Robert Edward Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 8 | 1909 T206 Honus WagnerBaseball | Sports | SGC 3 | £4.9m | $6,600,000 | Aug 2021 | Robert Edward Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 9 | 2009-10 National Treasures Stephen CurryBasketball | Sports | PSA 8 | £4.4m | $5,900,000 | Jul 2021 | Private sale | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 10 | 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Pikachu Illustrator | Pokémon | PSA 10 | £3.9m | $5,275,000 | Jul 2021 | Private sale | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 11 | 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite LeBron James RPABasketball | Sports | BGS 9 | £3.8m | $5,200,000 | Oct 2021 | PWCC | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 12 | 1952 Topps Mickey MantleBaseball | Sports | PSA 9 | £3.8m | $5,200,000 | Jan 2021 | Private sale | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 13 | 2013 Bowman Chrome Aaron JudgeBaseball | Sports | BGS 9.5 | £3.8m | $5,200,000 | Mar 2026 | Fanatics Collect | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 14 | 1909 T206 Honus WagnerBaseball | Sports | PSA 1 | £3.8m | $5,124,000 | Feb 2026 | Goldin Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 15 | 2023-24 Panini Prizm Black Victor WembanyamaBasketball | Sports | PSA 10 | £3.8m | $5,110,000 | May 2026 | Fanatics Collect | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 16 | 2018-19 Panini Flawless Luka DončićBasketball | Sports | PSA 7 | £3.5m | $4,700,000 | Sep 2025 | Private sale | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 17 | 2018-19 Panini National Treasures Luka DončićBasketball | Sports | BGS 9 | £3.4m | $4,600,000 | Feb 2021 | Private sale | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 18 | 1952 Topps Mickey MantleBaseball | Sports | SGC 9 | £3.3m | $4,500,000 | Aug 2023 | Heritage Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 19 | 2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick MahomesAmerican football | Sports | BGS 8.5 | £3.2m | $4,300,000 | Jul 2021 | PWCC | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 20 | 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey Michael JordanBasketball | Sports | PSA 6 | £3.1m | $4,250,000 | Apr 2026 | Goldin Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 21 | 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53Baseball | Sports | PSA 9 | £3.1m | $4,212,000 | Jul 2021 | Memory Lane | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 22 | 1914 Baltimore News Babe RuthBaseball | Sports | SGC 3 | £3m | $4,020,000 | Oct 2025 | Heritage Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 23 | 2009 Bowman Draft Mike TroutBaseball | Sports | PSA 9 | £2.9m | $3,936,000 | Aug 2020 | Goldin Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 24 | 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne GretzkyIce hockey | Sports | PSA 10 | £2.8m | $3,750,000 | Mar 2021 | Heritage Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 25 | 1909 T206 Honus WagnerBaseball | Sports | PSA 2 | £2.8m | $3,750,000 | May 2021 | Mile High Card Co | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 26 | 1909 T206 Honus WagnerBaseball | Sports | SGC Authentic | £2.7m | $3,599,000 | Feb 2026 | Heritage Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 27 | 2008-09 Upper Deck Black Michael Jordan / Kobe BryantBasketball | Sports | PSA 7 | £2.6m | $3,500,000 | Sep 2025 | Private sale | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 28 | 2018 Bowman Chrome Shohei Ohtani (hitting)Baseball | Sports | BGS 9.5 | £2.5m | $3,365,000 | Jul 2026 | Fanatics Collect | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 29 | 1951 Bowman Mickey MantleBaseball | Sports | PSA 9 | £2.4m | $3,192,000 | Dec 2022 | Memory Lane | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 30 | 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite All-NBA Michael Jordan / Kobe BryantBasketball | Sports | PSA 6 | £2.3m | $3,172,000 | Dec 2025 | Heritage Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 31 | 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green Kobe BryantBasketball | Sports | PSA 5 | £2.3m | $3,150,000 | Apr 2026 | ALT | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 32 | 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom BradyAmerican football | Sports | BGS 9 | £2.3m | $3,100,000 | Jun 2021 | Lelands | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 33 | 1993 Magic: The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus | Magic | CGC Pristine 10 | £2.2m | $3,000,000 | Apr 2024 | Private sale (Pristine Collectibles) | CGC Cards |
| 34 | 2025 Topps Chrome MVP Gold Logoman Shohei Ohtani (1/1)Baseball | Sports | 1/1 | £2.2m | $3,000,000 | Dec 2025 | Fanatics Collect | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 35 | 1998 Pokémon Trophy Pikachu No. 1 Trainer | Pokémon | PSA 9 | £2.2m | $3,000,000 | Sep 2025 | eBay | Wargamer |
| 36 | 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Michael Jordan LogomanBasketball | Sports | PSA Authentic | £2.2m | $2,928,000 | Jun 2024 | Goldin Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 37 | 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite LeBron James RPABasketball | Sports | BGS 9.5 | £2.2m | $2,928,000 | Jun 2026 | Goldin Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 38 | 1986-87 Fleer Michael JordanBasketball | Sports | PSA 9 | £2m | $2,700,000 | Oct 2025 | Goldin Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 39 | 2018 Topps Chrome Shohei OhtaniBaseball | Sports | BGS 9.5 | £1.9m | $2,562,000 | Jun 2026 | Goldin Auctions | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 40 | 1986-87 Fleer Michael JordanBasketball | Sports | PSA 9 | £1.8m | $2,500,000 | Jun 2025 | Joopiter | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 41 | 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Babe RuthBaseball | Sports | PSA 7 | £1.8m | $2,400,000 | Nov 2021 | Mile High Card Co | GRADEx all-time sales |
| 42 | The One Ring (serialised 001/001), Lord of the Rings | Magic | - | £1.5m | $2,000,000 | 2023 | Private sale | QP Market Network |
| 43 | 1998 Pokémon Trophy Pikachu No. 3 Trainer | Pokémon | PSA 10 | £1.3m | $1,769,000 | May 2026 | Goldin Auctions | Wargamer |
| 44 | 1999 Pokémon First Edition Base Set Holo Charizard | Pokémon | PSA 10 | £517,000 | $700,000 | 2026 | Private sale | Wargamer |
| 45 | 1993 Magic: The Gathering Beta Black Lotus (artist proof, signed) | Magic | - | £455,000 | $615,000 | 2023 | Heritage Auctions | QP Market Network |
| 46 | 1999 Pokémon Prerelease Raichu | Pokémon | PSA 6 | £407,000 | $550,000 | Sep 2025 | Heritage Auctions | Wargamer |
| 47 | 1993 Magic: The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus (signed) | Magic | PSA 10 | £399,000 | $540,000 | 2023 | PWCC / Fanatics Collect | QP Market Network |
| 48 | 1993 Magic: The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus | Magic | PSA 10 | £378,000 | $511,100 | 2021 | PWCC Premier Auction | QP Market Network |
| 49 | 1995 Pokémon Topsun Blue Back Charizard | Pokémon | PSA 10 | £365,000 | $493,230 | Jan 2021 | Goldin Auctions | Wargamer |
| 50 | 1998 Pokémon Trophy Pikachu No. 2 Trainer | Pokémon | PSA 10 | £328,000 | $444,000 | Jul 2023 | Goldin Auctions | Wargamer |
| 51 | 1998 Pokémon Presentation Blastoise | Pokémon | CGC 8.5 | £266,000 | $360,000 | Jan 2021 | Heritage Auctions | Wargamer |
| 52 | 1996 Pokémon Japanese First Edition Base Set Holo Charizard (signed) | Pokémon | PSA 10 | £239,000 | $324,000 | Apr 2022 | Fanatics Collect | Wargamer |
| 53 | 1997 Pokémon Trophy Pikachu No. 3 Trainer | Pokémon | PSA 8 | £239,000 | $324,000 | Apr 2023 | Heritage Auctions | Wargamer |
| 54 | 1999 Pokémon Snap Contest Pikachu | Pokémon | PSA Authentic | £200,000 | $270,000 | Jun 2023 | Private sale | Wargamer |
| 55 | 2018 Pokémon Ishihara GX Promo (signed) | Pokémon | PSA 7 | £183,000 | $247,230 | Apr 2021 | Goldin Auctions | Wargamer |
| 56 | 1998 Pokémon Test Print Gold Border Blastoise | Pokémon | CGC 6.5 | £160,000 | $216,000 | Jul 2021 | Heritage Auctions | Wargamer |
| 57 | 2005 Pokémon Play Promo Holo Umbreon | Pokémon | BGS 9.5 | £133,000 | $180,000 | Feb 2024 | Fanatics Collect | Wargamer |
| 58 | 1998 Pokémon Family Event Trophy Kangaskhan | Pokémon | PSA 10 | £129,000 | $175,000 | Jul 2023 | Heritage Auctions | Wargamer |
| 59 | 1993 Magic: The Gathering Alpha Mox Jet | Magic | PSA 10 | £80,000 | $108,000 | 2024 | Fanatics Collect | QP Market Network |
| 60 | 1993 Magic: The Gathering Alpha Lord of the Pit | Magic | BGS 10 | £78,000 | $105,000 | 2023 | PWCC Premier Auction | QP Market Network |
| 61 | 1993 Magic: The Gathering Alpha Timetwister | Magic | PSA 10 | £62,000 | $84,000 | 2023 | PWCC Premier Auction | QP Market Network |
Sterling converted at £1 = $1.35 (ECB reference rate, 4 September 2026) and rounded. All sales were transacted in US dollars. The top entries are confirmed against the auction house or press reports; the wider list is compiled from GRADEx's running record of publicly reported sales, Wargamer (Pokémon) and QP Market Network (Magic). Spotted a documented sale we've missed? Tell us.