How the aesthetics of Panini stickers has changed over the years Started almost by accident in the early 1960s, tradition now meets the modernity of digital and NFTs

Ever since the Panini brothers of Modena bought an old batch of stickers from the Nannina editions and resold them in convenient packs at 10 lire each, the Panini album has accompanied and defined the aesthetics of Italian soccer. The gluing ceremony, the painstaking attention to the edges, the market for duplicates; the stickers tell the story of the faces and generations of the Italian championship like nothing else, and in Italy the stickers are synonymous with Panini. The first album dating back to the 1961-62 season is nowadays to be considered as a real heirloom for collectors, and is what can be considered as the real birth of the world of collectibles in Italy. A history that has crossed the ages, constantly renewing itself and remaining a bridge between new and old soccer fans.

How the covers have changed over the years 

In the last year, the growth of digital platforms like SoRare has risked making many millennials who collected paper stickers during their adolescence lost their passion. So for the 2021/22 collection of football players, Panini has decided to take the practice of sticking stickers on an album to a higher level, because thanks to the emergence of a hyper-digitized world, even the most folkloristic of traditions risks being disrupted. 

Who knows if the Italian company hasn't sent a signal to all intents and purposes to follow the phenomenon of SoRare and NFT. Looking to the future and adopting this perspective, the Panini company could be planning to enter the blockchain macrocosm as early as next year, presenting itself with a more than consolidated mark-up, and having on its side the fact that it has never had to employ great effort in obtaining licenses and various rights from the world of soccer.