CGC Cards Hot List – May 2025

It’s the CGC Hot List, and we’re sharing some of the most submitted cards in recent weeks, including players from the past and present who are driving the current market. Utilizing comprehensive insights from CGC submission data, here are five cards to watch.

1) Jayden Daniels

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After an impressive college career at LSU, where he earned the Heisman Trophy, Jayden Daniels continued his superb play during his rookie season with the Washington Commanders. After breaking the record for rushing yards in a season by a rookie QB, being named Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading Washington to their first NFC title game appearance since 1991, many consider Daniels' pro debut to be one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history.

The 24-year-old quarterback's amazing start to his pro career attracted a large fanbase, with many collectors looking to add Daniels' rookie cards to their collections. One of the NFL star's most submitted cards commemorated his Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, making Daniels a top athlete on the CGC Cards Hot List.

2) Arch Manning

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Arguably one of the most hyped players in college football history due to his family's quarterback pedigree, Arch Manning has already been talked about for years. Serving as a second-string QB last season at Texas, no other backup in the nation garnered the attention that followed Manning during his limited playtime. The anticipation of Manning becoming the starter next season has helped drive his card submissions, which includes a handful of cards connected to certain collegiate milestones, like his 325-yard, two-touchdown performance in the Longhorns' debut SEC game against Mississippi State in September 2024.

3) Lionel Messi

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The lone veteran on the Hot List this go around, soccer legend Lionel Messi continues to amaze on the soccer pitch while playing in the MLS for Inter Miami. Immediately making an impact upon his US debut during the summer of 2023, the Argentine scored nine goals in just his first six games for Miami and also led the club to its first-ever trophy after winning the Leagues Cup.

In 2024, he led Miami to the highest-ever MLS regular season points total (74 points). Due to injuries, Messi only played in 19 matches but still finished the regular season with 20 goals and 16 assists, earning MLS Most Valuable Player honors. His MVP accolade was commemorated on this Topps Now issue, which was Messi's most-submitted card that passed through the CGC Cards grading room the last couple of months.

4) Travis Hunter

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The most recent Heisman Trophy winner is arguably one of the greatest college players of all-time, dominating on both sides of the ball as a dual-threat wide receiver and cornerback. Colorado's Travis Hunter was selected with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft and card collectors are assuredly waiting for his first official NFL rookie cards to hit shelves. Meanwhile, there is a small number of collegiate cards featuring Hunter that are available to collect, and many have been submitted in recent weeks. If the young football star continues to shine in the NFL, Hunter might just become a staple of future Hot Lists.

5) Caitlin Clark

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One of the most popular and collected athletes today, WNBA star Caitlin Clark has not only made her mark on the basketball world but on the card collecting world as well. She's seen some of her rarest and most coveted cards sell for tens of thousands of dollars, like the CGC-certified 2024-25 Panini Instant WNBA Draft Night Autographs #DN-1 Caitlin Clark - Blue Viper 1-of-1 that sold for $84,000. At the time, this broke the record for the highest amount paid at auction for a women's sports card.

Most collectors don't have the money to chase after a high-end collectible like that. Instead, many collectors have tracked down Clark's other base rookie cards to submit for grading and certification, like her rookie issue from the 2024 Panini Prizm Monopoly set, which propelled the young WNBA star onto this Hot List.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.