Shorts: Bellingham, Stats Perform, Beats by Dre
Topps has launched its Chrome UEFA Club Competitions 2024/25 trading card collection, featuring Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The collection unites the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and European Conference League competitions into one set. It includes quad autographs for the first time, alongside genuine autograph cards from players such as Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, and Erling Haaland, and legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The set also features young players like Endrick and Ethan Nwaneri, new short-printed cards including Radiating Rookies, Circle of Power, Munich at Night, HELIX, and Topps Chrome White Noise, 1/1 trophy cards representing the three men’s UEFA trophies, and new 1-of-1 Club & Country Base Parallels.
Bellingham starred in a short film titled ‘Greatness in your Hands’ to mark the launch. In the 30-second clip, he reviewed iconic European football moments before revealing the new collection.
Patrick Rausch, Chief Marketing Officer EMEA, Fanatics Collectibles, said, “With the European finals fast approaching, anticipation among collectors is already sky-high.
“Jude Bellingham brings that excitement to life perfectly in our new campaign. This year’s Topps Chrome UCC set celebrates the legends of European football, the stars of tomorrow, and everything fans love about the beautiful game.”
The European League of Football has agreed a strategic, multi-year partnership with Stats Perform, which has become the official data partner for the league.
Under the agreement, Stats Perform is providing official Opta data for every ELF game, aiming to fuel coverage across broadcast, digital, and social platforms.
The collaboration empowers the European League of Football (ELF) and its 16 teams to elevate gameday storytelling, spotlight rising stars, and engage a growing European fanbase with real-time, data-driven experiences.
As part of the deal, Opta Live, Stats Perform’s live data and AI-assisted research tool, will enhance live commentary, social media posts, and media analysis. Opta Graphics is powering automated matchday visuals, making it easy for the ELF and its clubs to reach fans in real-time with shareable milestones, stories, trends, and standout stats.
The ELF is on a mission to establish American football as an integral part of the European sports scene and popularise it worldwide, and this collaboration with Stats Perform is at the heart of those efforts.
Stats Perform’s partnership with the ELF follows several other official data partnerships announced by the company in recent months, which include arrangements with fast-growing sports properties like Grand Slam Track, Concacaf, and the Northern Super League.
Steve Xeller, Chief Revenue Officer, Stats Perform, said, “American football is at an inflection point in Europe. By supporting the ELF’s dynamic growth with our data storytelling platforms, we’re helping them create the kind of fan experiences that turn one-time viewers into lifelong supporters – all while building a cross-border sports brand.”
Beats by Dre has launched a new campaign featuring Chinese Olympic tennis gold medallist Qinwen Zheng.
The campaign, titled ‘Fit for a Queen’. It is the latest addition to Beats’ athlete-inspired Powerbeats Pro 2 series, which has previously highlighted global sports figures including basketball star Lebron James and football icon Leo Messi earlier this year.
Qinwen Zheng, who earned an Olympic gold medal and is affectionately nicknamed ‘Queen Wen’ by her travelling supporters, is the focus of the new creative. The campaign concept was developed to showcase her formidable power and athleticism.
It depicts Zheng within a setting conceptualised as her ‘very own palace’ and competing on her ‘very own court’, drawing inspiration from her popular nickname. The Powerbeats Pro 2 series campaigns aim to connect the performance of elite athletes with the capabilities of the audio product.
The ‘Fit for a Queen’ campaign was developed by agency Homeground, with production handled by ProdCo.
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