2022-23 Panini Encased Soccer

Panini's 2022-23 Encased Soccer brought the premium relic format to the beautiful game during a transitional year for the brand. This release landed just as Panini was winding down its US trading card operations, which makes it a bit of a footnote historically. You're getting thick base cards with embedded jersey swatches or player memorabilia sealed behind acetate windows, the hallmark of the Encased line. The roster pulls heavily from Europe's top leagues, with names like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane featuring prominently. Base cards sit in the 1-per-pack range, so the hit rate is intentionally sparse. Parallels range from common versions down to numbered chase cards that get progressively tougher, and there are hit cards with dual relics or triple memorabilia pieces if you get lucky. What makes this worth hunting comes down to the encased relic inserts and parallel tiers. You want cards with meaningful swatches or patches rather than generic logo pieces. Look for the most popular European players since those move faster and hold value better. Different packs yield different relic quality, and some boxes carry autograph cards at higher price points. The print runs on lower parallels aren't small by today's standards, so unless you're chasing a card numbered under 50, don't expect to flip base hits for major profit. This product works best if you're a soccer fan first and a card investor second. Panini's exit from the US market means secondary market support dried up fast, and soccer cards in general have softer collector demand than football or basketball. If you love the sport and want tactile, premium-looking cards of players you actually follow, Encased delivers that experience. Otherwise, buy the specific cards you want as singles. The rip appeal is fun but risky given the low hit rate and uncertain market.