Euro 2024 missing stickers: Why is Kylian Mbappe not in the Topps album?

The best part of a major international football tournament is one thing and one thing only: a brand new sticker album.

Offering adults the chance to relive the childhood glee they felt collecting their favourite stars from World Cups and European Championships of yesteryear, Panini are the company that have become synonymous with providing those feel-good memories for millions of football fans across the globe.

However, Panini have been replaced by Topps for Euro 2024 - a decision that has frustrated collectors. To make matters worse, Topps have infuriated customers worldwide with their sticker selection, with stars such as Kylian Mbappe not featuring in the official album.

Which Euro 2024 stars are missing from the Topps sticker album?

Phil Foden is among the absent England players | Nigel French/Allstar/GettyImages

Kylian Mbappe is not the only superstar omitted from Topps' Euro 2024 sticker album. Among the England squad, the likes of Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and John Stones are all missing, despite the fact that Luke Thomas - yet to be handed his international debut - is included alongside the likes of Callum Wilson and Rico Lewis.

Elsewhere, hosts Germany are without either of their first-choice goalkeepers in Manuel Neuer and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, while Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz are also absent. William Saliba is another notable exclusion in the France squad.

With the album being finalised prior to the Euro 2024 play-offs in March, it means that there are also stickers included from countries who didn't make the tournament such as Wales, Kazakhstan and Greece.

Why are Kylian Mbappe and others missing from Euro 2024 album?

Stickers of some of Europe's elite players are missing from the album due to licensing issues regarding previous manufacturers Panini, who still hold the rights to certain players and teams. While Topps have the official Euro 2024 rights, they don't own the rights for every player or nation.

For example, England can't be shown in their official kit in any sticker album other than one produced by Panini, and the former album providers own the rights for specific individuals such as Foden and Mbappe - hence why they can't appear in the Topps album.

What have Topps said about their Euro 2024 album?

Speaking about the issues they have faced with filling their album, Fanatics, who own Topps, have hit back at Panini.

A company spokesperson stated: "While we are disappointed that a small number of players are missing, this is due to the tournament’s former sticker partner having blocked certain parts of the collection to the detriment of the fans.

"Unlike the former sticker partner, we are committed to the fans and believe the offering of stickers and cards – and range of current and former players – will get everyone excited for the tournament."

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This article was originally published on www.90min.com as Euro 2024 missing stickers: Why is Kylian Mbappe not in the Topps album?.