Mia Hamm rookie, soccer cards set records at Goldin Auctions

For nearly two decades, Mia Hamm was the face of women's soccer in the United States. 

A two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, Hamm led the U.S. Women's National team from 1987-2004. Now Hamm is making headlines and setting records again with the most expensive trading card ever for a female athlete. 

Hamm's rookie card sold for $34,440 in Goldin Auction's June Premium Card and Memorabilia Auction, making it the most expensive female athlete trading card ever. 

Two more soccer cards also highlighted the auction with an autographed card of up-and-coming international soccer star Erling Haaland selling for a record $442,800, the most expensive soccer card ever sold, while a Lionel Messi rookie card sold for $344,400.

The soccer card sales were further proof that the sports collectible industry is not only soaring in the United States but also internationally. 

“Over the last year we’ve seen a massive surge in items for sports that have international appeal, including soccer, hockey, and lately, Formula 1,” said Goldin Auctions Executive Chairman and Founder Ken Goldin.

The June auction, which totaled more than $21 million in sales, also broke the record for the most bids ever placed in a single sports collectible auction. Among other big sales were the most expensive box of unopened Fleer basketball cards and more than half a million dollars for a card of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

An unopened box of 1961-62 Fleer basketball cards, with possible rookie cards of Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson, sold for a record $461,250, while a Kobe Bryant NBA Logo Mania autographed card fetched $555,960, the second-highest price ever for a stand-alone Kobe card.

Other notable items sold in the auction include:

• A Luka Doncic signed rookie patch card sold for $248,460.

• One of only two of Lou Gehrig’s game-used Hanna Batrite R2 Model Bats for $246,000.

• A 1952 Berk Ross Mickey Mantle card for $168,000, a record for any Berk Ross card.

• A Zion Williamson rookie card for $172,200.

• A Cassius Clay (future Muhammad Ali) hand cut rookie card for $98,400.

• A Panini Prizm "Black Prizm Finite" Mike Trout card for $94,710, a new record for any Panini Prizm baseball card.

• An O-Pee-Chee Unopened Wax Pack of hockey cards, featuring a Wayne Gretzky rookie card on back for $81,180, a record for any O-Pee-Chee pack.

• A 1952 Topps Wilie Mays card for $233,700.

• A T206 Sweet Caporal Eddie Plank for $233,700.