If you've ever opened a pack of soccer cards and wondered why some cards look completely different from others, you're not alone! When it comes to collecting soccer cards, you'll often hear terms like ‘parallels’, ‘inserts’, short prints’ and ‘super short prints’ but what do all of these terms actually mean? And how do you know if you've pulled something rare? While some of these cards might simply have a different color or design, others can be much harder to find and more valuable for collectors. Keep reading for a breakdown of some of the most common types of soccer cards you'll come across and how to tell them apart!

What Is a Base Card?

Before we get into parallels and inserts, let's start with the basics! Base cards make up the main set of a trading cards release and are usually the most common cards you'll find in a pack. They typically feature a player, team or other subject and have their own card number as part of the main checklist. For example, if a product has a 200-card base set, the card's numbered #1 through #200 would make up the base set. These are the cards you’re most likely to find when opening packs and are usually the starting point for collectors who want to build a complete set.

What Is a Parallel Card?

A parallel is an alternate version of a base card. The easiest way to think about it is as the same card with a special twist! A parallel will usually feature the exact same player and photo as the base card, but it will have something different about its appearance. This could be a different border colour, pattern, foil, texture, or shiny finish. Some parallels can also be much rarer than the regular base card. Many have serial numbers printed on the card to show exactly how many copies were produced. You might see something like 25/99, 7/10, or 1/1 on the back of a card. So, if you pull a regular card of a player and then find the same card with a gold design and a stamp saying 03/10, you’ve found a Gold /10 parallel!

What Do the Numbers on a Parallel Mean?

If you're new to collecting, seeing something like ‘/99’ or ‘/10’ on a card might be confusing, but it's actually pretty simple! The number tells you how many copies of that card were made. Generally, the lower the number, the rarer the card. A 1/1, also known as a ‘one of one’, is the only copy of that particular card. Of course, rarity isn't the only thing that determines the card's value. A /10 card of a lesser-known player might not be worth as much as a /99 card featuring one of the biggest stars in the game. The player, product, design and demand all play a role too!

How Can You Tell if a Card is a Parallel?

Sometimes a parallel is easy to spot because it looks completely different from the base card. Other times, it can be much more subtle! One of the easiest ways to tell is to compare your card to the regular base version. Does it have a different color, pattern or finish? Many modern parallels have a reflective or rainbow-like finish that changes as you move the card around. Topps often uses the term ‘Refractor’ for cards with a reflective finish, while Panini uses ‘Prizm’ for its reflective chrome cards. Both can have multiple colour and rarity variations. And when in doubt, always check the back of the card for a serial number!

What Is an Insert?

Another big term you’ll hear when collecting trading cards is ‘inserts’. Unlike a parallel, an insert is a completely separate card from the base set. Inserts usually have their own name, theme, design, and numbering system. While a parallel takes the base card and gives it a different look, an insert is more like its own mini set within the product. For example, an insert set might celebrate young stars, legendary players, a team, an achievement, or specific theme. They often have much more creative and eye-catching designs than the regular base cards. This is why you might open a pack and suddenly find a card that looks nothing like the rest of the cards you've pulled!

What’s the Difference Between an Insert and a Parallel?

This is one of the easiest things collectors can get confused about! A parallel is the same card in a different version, while an insert is a completely different card from a separate set. For example, if you have a base card of a player and then find that exact same card with a blue foil finish, that’s a parallel. But if you find a card featuring that same player with a completely different design, theme and card number, that’s an insert!

What Are Short Prints and Super Short Prints?

Another big term you’ll hear in the world of card collecting is short prints! A Short Print (SP) is a card that is produced in much lower quantities than the regular cards in a set. A Super Short Print (SSP) is even harder to find. One common type of SP or SSP is a photo variation. This means the player might have a completely different photo than the one used on their regular base card, while the overall card design is similar. The tricky part is that SPs and SSPs are often not serial numbered. This means you can’t simply look at the back of the card and see ‘/10’ or ‘/25’ to know that it’s rare. Instead, you might need to compare the card number with the product checklist or look at the official odds to figure out what you have. You could pull a card that looks almost like a regular base card, only to find out that it’s actually one of the hardest cards to find in the entire collection!

Which Cards Are the Rarest?

Every soccer card product has its own checklist and odds, so there isn’t one exact rarity scale that applies to every set. However, the general order for the rarity scale is base cards, common parallels, numbered parallels, short prints, super short prints, case hits, and 1/1s. However, there can be exceptions because rarity and value go hand in hand. A rare card featuring a hugely popular player can be worth much more than an even rarer card featuring a player with less demand!

Parallels, inserts, and short prints are a huge part of what makes soccer card collecting so much fun! While base cards are essential to the foundation of a collection, the chance of pulling a special card gives collectors something extra to chase. Check out our wide selection of Topps and Panini trading cards and stickers at SoccerCards.ca!