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1. The Origin: The Panini Brothers

In the 1950s, brothers Giuseppe and Benito Panini operated a newsstand in Modena. In 1961, they officially founded the company after buying a collection of unsold flower cards and realizing the true potential was in soccer. Initially, the images were glued with glue sticks, as they were not self-adhesive.

2. The World Cup Debut: Mexico 1970

The big international leap happened in Mexico 1970. It was the first official FIFA World Cup album produced by Panini.

  • Innovation: It was the first album distributed outside of Italy.

  • Curiosity: In this edition, the stickers (or cromos) were not self-adhesive; users had to use glue to attach them. Additionally, the descriptions were in several languages, marking the beginning of its global expansion.

3. The Self-Adhesive Revolution

For the Germany 1974 World Cup, Panini introduced a technical innovation that would change the game: self-adhesive stickers. This eliminated the need for glue and greatly facilitated the exchange of "doubles" in schoolyards and plazas, turning the act of "sticking" into a satisfying tactile experience.

4. Iconic Elements of the Collection

Over the decades, standards were established that are now tradition:

  • Shiny Emblems: Introduced to give "special" value to federation emblems.

  • The "Impossible" Selection: There are always teams or players that seem harder to get, fueling urban myths among collectors.

  • The Format: The structure of presenting teams with their group formation photo and individual faces has remained almost intact out of fidelity to nostalgia.

5. The Digital and Modern Era

Starting with South Africa 2010, Panini launched the Virtual Album, allowing users to collect and exchange stickers for free via the internet and mobile apps. Despite this, the physical album continues to break sales records every four years.

Curious Facts

  • Pelé is one of the most sought-after figures in old albums, especially the 1970 one.

  • In some countries, the album's launch is a national event that sells out in a matter of hours.

  • Panini produces around 1 billion packs per year worldwide to meet demand for different leagues and tournaments.

Today, completing the Panini album is considered the "official start" of the World Cup for fans, even months before the ball rolls.

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