Panini explains Neymar’s absence from the World Cup album and details selection criteria

Panini officially launched Copa’s Mundo sticker album, in an edition considered the largest ever produced by the company. The product, which hits the Brazilian market this week, reflects the expansion of the Fifa tournament to 48 participating countries, generating great expectations among collectors and football fans. One of the main curiosities, however, is the absence of names like striker Neymar in the selection of athletes for the album.

Raul Vallecillo, CEO of Panini Brasil, explained that the selection of players is made well in advance of the coaches’ final call-ups. The company’s methodology is based on a history of call-ups in their respective selections since the last Copa of Mundo, a process that seeks to anticipate the likely participants of Mundial.

Lançamento and Expansão from Edição Histórica

Mundo’s new album from Copa is available to Brazilian collectors, marking the beginning of the traditional pre-World Cup fever. Esta edition stands out as the largest ever produced by Panini, a direct reflection of the increase in the number of teams that will compete in the tournament. Fifa decided to expand Mundial to 48 teams, which naturally translates into a greater number of players and trading cards for fans to collect.

With this expansion, the Italian company seeks to meet growing demand and global enthusiasm for the event. The expectation is that the album will move the collectibles market, as happens every four years. The early arrival of the product allows fans to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Mundial even before the final calls are made. The launch comes at a time of great buzz about who will be in the national teams.

Critérios Rígidos from Convocação from Panini

The methodology used by Panini to select the athletes who appear on the stickers is rigorous and based on historical data. Segundo Raul Vallecillo, CEO of Panini Brasil, the company conducts an in-depth analysis of players. Eles observe the history of call-ups in their teams since the previous Copa, considering participation in friendlies and championships played in the cycle.

Essa approach aims to identify athletes most likely to be called up for Mundial. The decision is made long before the coaches’ official announcements, which inevitably leads to some discrepancies. Panini needs to predict the scenario months in advance. Isso means that not all players who appear in the album will actually be in the tournament, and vice versa.

Neymar Fora and Outros Desfalques Inesperados

One of the names most notable for being absent from the Brazilian team’s album is striker Neymar. The player is not among Panini’s “call-ups” for this edition of Copa’s Mundo. Sua exclusion is justified by the lack of recent participation in the national team. Desde who suffered a serious injury in October 2023, Neymar has been absent from the Brazilian national team’s squad. Essa’s sequence of absences from national team commitments, including five call-ups to games since the incident, aligns with Panini’s criteria of prioritizing athletes with recent participation history.

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Outras curious situations involve athletes who, although present in the Panini album, will not be on the field due to injuries. This is the case of Éder Militão and Rodrygo, both from Real Madrid, who appear on the stickers but are injured and will not play Mundial in Estados Unidos, México and Canadá. Essa lag between the production of the album and the reality of the call-ups reflects the difficulty of anticipating the complete football scenario, including unpredictable factors such as injuries.

Detalhes of Álbum and Preços of Lançamento

Mundo’s Copa album hits the market with a wide variety of options for collectors. The edition has a total of 980 different stickers, offering an extensive collecting experience. Para enthusiasts, Panini made different formats of the product available, adapting to fans’ preferences and budgets.

Launch prices are as follows:
• Álbum with single cover:R$ 24.90
• Álbum with hard cover:R$74.90 to R$79.90
• Pacotes with seven stickers:R$7

Além from traditional sales, Panini also entered into a strategic partnership with the McDonald’s fast-food chain. Essa collaboration aims to expand the distribution and reach of the album and stickers, especially among younger audiences. The marketing strategy seeks to engage even more fans in the excitement of Copa and Mundo, even before the ball rolls onto the field.