Panini Legends

A Celebration of the World's Greatest Football Stickers
by Greg Lansdowne

Dividing 85 into one

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Bloomsbury’s collaboration with Panini has already produced a rich harvest of successful publications, beginning with the 60th anniversary celebration in 2021 and then two compilation volumes, from the UK sticker albums between 1978 and 1993.

With so much outstanding content to pick from, the release of another book is in no way overkill – certainly not in the eyes of Panini sticker collectors of various generations.

While the opening three releases relied mostly on collections brought out in the UK, the latest title (published in October 2024) covered a wider expanse of Panini’s history.

In a bid to cover as wide an expanse as possible, there couldn’t be an over-concentration on particular nations, club sides or eras.

Panini’s early days are covered by greats such as Dino Zoff, Pele, George Best and Franz Beckenbauer.

Eighties heroes Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, Kenny Dalglish and Ruud Gullit are meshed with luminaries of the following decade such as Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini and Dennis Bergkamp.

​More recent stars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Megan Rapinoe and Marta also take their place in a kaleidoscope of colourful kits, eye-catching haircuts and distinctive Panini designed figurines.
 

Alongside the imagery is a potted story of each player’s career as well as a checklist of stickers for those keen to acquire some of the approximate 900 stickers seen in the book.

Every member of the ‘chosen 85’ are sure to gain favour among many of the readers but there will be equally be outrage over ‘the ones who got away’.

In order to get my retaliation in first, I have addressed the criteria for selection towards the end of the book in the ‘Honourable Mentions’ section.
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I’m sure it won’t placate everyone but rest assured this writer has even more regrets over some of those omitted than the readers…and there is also a chance of Panini Legends 2!