CurioShelf Guide

Sports Memorabilia: Choose a Rookie Relic, Numbered Parallel, or Messi /4

Compare four ungraded memorabilia cards across NBA, MLB, UFC, and MLS-from Ivan Rabb's rookie insert to Lionel Messi's Materials /4-by player focus, card format, and listed price.

Last updated Aug 9, 2026

Choosing sports memorabilia cards is rarely about finding one universal winner. A rookie-focused NBA insert serves a different collection goal than a numbered MLB or UFC parallel, while a Lionel Messi MLS card sits in a very different price category. The practical payoff is to narrow the choice by the player and card identity you collect first, then let the listed price settle the final decision.

Quick take

All four choices are ungraded memorabilia cards, so their differences come down to athlete focus, league, rookie status, and parallel or insert identity. The Ivan Rabb card is the entry point for an NBA rookie-card collection. Alec Bohm gives baseball collectors a Purple /20 Art Nouveau Relics option, while Ian Machado Garry brings a Blue /25 UFC format. The Messi Museum of Materials card is the singular choice for a collector specifically pursuing an MLS Logo/4 card. Listed prices span widely, making a focused collecting goal especially important here.

Listed-price comparison

CardListed priceRelative position
Ivan Rabb Art NouveauUSD 2.99
Alec Bohm Art Nouveau Relics Purple /20USD 5.99
Ian Machado Garry Star Relics Blue /25USD 50.00
Lionel Messi Museum of Materials MLS Logo/4USD 1,399.00

Decision matrix

  • Start with the collection lane. These cards cover four different sports, so player and league preference should outweigh a cross-sport comparison of card designs.
  • Decide which card identity matters most. The key formats represented are a rookie insert, numbered parallels, and a Materials card with an MLS Logo/4 designation.
  • Use condition consistently. Each selection is ungraded, so none is positioned as a graded-card presentation.
  • Set the spending boundary last. Once the athlete and format are right, the listed-price range separates a casual add from a highly targeted centerpiece.

Product notes

Alec Bohm - 2022 Panini Diamond Kings Art Nouveau Relics Purple /20

The 2022 Panini Diamond Kings Art Nouveau Relics Alec Bohm #AN-AB Purple /20 fits a Phillies or Alec Bohm collection that specifically wants a numbered memorabilia insert. Its Purple /20 identity, serial-numbered feature, and Art Nouveau Relics insert-set designation give it a clear place within the 2022 Diamond Kings release. At USD 5.99, it remains near the lower end of this comparison while staying firmly player-specific. The limitation is straightforward: it is ungraded and marked not autographed. Choose it for the Bohm relic format and numbered parallel rather than for an autograph or graded presentation.

Ivan Rabb - 2017-18 Panini Court Kings Art Nouveau

The 2017-18 Panini Court Kings Art Nouveau Ivan Rabb #AN-IR combines a rookie designation with an NBA memorabilia insert, making it a natural match for an Ivan Rabb or Memphis Grizzlies-focused collection. At USD 2.99, it is the lowest-listed-price card in this group. The Art Nouveau insert identity is clear, while the [Base] parallel/variety designation specifies its version within the release. Its limitation is equally direct: the card is ungraded, and the [Base] designation may be less aligned with a collection built around numbered parallel cards. Its strongest appeal is the rookie-card focus at the lowest listed price.

Ian Machado Garry - 2025 Topps Royalty UFC Star Relics Blue /25

The 2025 Topps Royalty UFC Star Relics Ian Machado Garry #SR-IG Blue /25 is suited to a UFC-centered collection seeking a named athlete and a numbered parallel. Blue is the listed parallel/variety, and the Star Relics insert set plus memorabilia feature establish its card format. The stated print run of 25 gives the /25 designation a specific collecting focus. At USD 50.00, it occupies the middle listed-price position between the two lower-priced cards and the Messi card. Its limitation is the ungraded condition, so its case rests on the Ian Machado Garry Blue /25 identity rather than a graded-card presentation.

Lionel Messi - 2026 LEAF ART OF SPORT Museum of Materials MLS Logo/4

The 2026 LEAF ART OF SPORT MUSEUM OF MATERIALS LIONEL MESSI GAME USED MEM MLS LOGO/4 is the specialized choice for a Lionel Messi or MLS-centered display. It is identified as game-used, and its Materials parallel/variety, /4 print run, and MLS Logo designation make the card narrowly focused for a particular Messi collecting goal. The listed price, USD 1,399.00, places it at the top of the group's range and calls for a focused reason to choose it. Two stated limitations define the decision: it is ungraded and marked not autographed. Pick it when the Messi Materials /4 identity is central to the collection.

Final recommendation by use case

For an NBA rookie memorabilia card at the lowest listed price, choose Ivan Rabb. Alec Bohm is the right direction for a baseball collection intentionally seeking the Art Nouveau Relics Purple /20 card. Ian Machado Garry fits a UFC collector prioritizing the Blue /25 Star Relics format. Reserve the Messi card for a collection centered on the Museum of Materials MLS Logo/4 identity and comfortable with a four-figure listed price. The best match is determined by the player and card format you collect, not by trying to make these four sports serve the same purpose.

Products in this article
2022 Panini Diamond KingsUSD 5.99View on eBay2017-18 Panini Court KingsUSD 2.99View on eBay2025 Topps Royalty UFCUSD 50.00View on eBay2026 LEAF ART OF SPORT MUSEUM OF MATERIALS LIONEL MESSI GAME USED MEM MLS LOGO/4USD 1,399.00View on eBay
2022 Panini Diamond KingsUSD 5.99View on eBay2017-18 Panini Court KingsUSD 2.99View on eBay2025 Topps Royalty UFCUSD 50.00View on eBay2026 LEAF ART OF SPORT MUSEUM OF MATERIALS LIONEL MESSI GAME USED MEM MLS LOGO/4USD 1,399.00View on eBay