Comprehensive List of Rookies
Given the global nature of the soccer card/sticker collecting hobby, it is incredibly difficult to pinpoint a "rookie card" in comparison to the American sports.
This list makes the best effort to provide a centralized list of iconic footballers and their rookies.
Changes to this list could be made at anytime given the fluctuating nature of the hobby and the resurfacing of never before discovered sets.
For easy searching on this page. Use the Ctrl + F function and type in the player you are searching for.

Argentina
Batistuta, Gabriel - 1991-92 Panini Calciatori
Ferreyra, Bernabe – 1933 Falcon Calvo y Cia Ltda - Colección Cigarrillos Ranchera , 1933 J.S Onagoity: Cigarrillos Record, 1930-31 Album Fenix
Maradona, Diego Armando - 1977 Futbol Campeonato Metropolitano y Nacional de Futbol Profesional Crack
Messi, Lionel – 2004-05 Panini Liga Megacracks
Monti, Luis - 1926 Cigarillos Plus Ultra (Serie C) , 1926 Choclatines Aguila
Moreno, Jose Manuel - 1936 Nobleza de Tabacos - Leyes de Football (Album)
Orsi, Raimundo - 1925-27 Cigarrillos Dolar (J.S Onagoity) - Serie 1a , 1926 Choclatines Aguila
Perinetti, Natalio - 1926 Cigarillos Plus Ultra (Serie C)
Pratto, Juan - 1926 Cigarillos Plus Ultra (Serie C)
Seoane, Manuel - 1925-27 Cigarrillos Dolar (J.S Onagoity) - Serie 2a
Sivori, Omari - 1954-55 Indalecio - River Plate
Stabile, Guillermo - 1925-27 Cigarrillos Dollar (J.S Onagoity) - Serie 1a
Austria
Bican, Josef - 1933 Idis Fussballschokolade - Fussball Album
Sindelar, Matthias - 1926 Greiling Sportbilder - Fussballsport
Brazil
Alberto, Carlos - 1964 Editora Aymore - Album Quishow
De Sordi - 1951 Oliveira & Innocente - Balas Centro Medio
Didi - 1948 Azes da Pelota - Album de Fotografias
Friedenreich, Arthur - 1925-27 Cigarrillos Dolar (J.S Onagoity) - Serie 2a
Garrincha - 1953 A Americana Ltda. - Album das Balas Futebol (Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro)
Gerson - 1961 Oliveira & Benassi - Balas Equipe
Jairzinho - 1964 Editora Aymore - Album Quishow
Kaka – 2002 Panini Campeonato Brasileiro
Pele – 1957 A Americana Ltda. Album das Balas Futebol
Ronaldinho – 1999 Panini Campeonato Brasileiro ‘99
Ronaldo – 1994-95 Panini Voetbal ’95
Santos, Djalma - 1949 A Americana Ltda. Album das Balas Futebol Craques do Campeonato
Socrates - 1976 Editora Graf - Campeonato Nacional 76
Tostao - 1964 Editora Aymore - Album Quishow
Zico - 1971 Saetta - Colecao Titulares de Ouro
Zito - 1953 A Americana Ltda. - Album das Balas Futebol (Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro)
Zizinho - 1941 A Americana - Album das Balas Futebol
Colombia
Valderrama, Carlos - 1981 Estrellas del Futbol (Colombia, Liga Dimayor)
France
Battiston, Patrick - 1975-76 Ageducatifs - Football 75/76
Bossis, Maxim - 1974-75 Ageducatifs - Football 74/75
Cantona, Eric – 1985-86 Panini Foot ‘86
Deschamps, Didier – 1987-88 Panini Football (France) ‘88
Ginola, David – 1986-87 Panini Football (France) ‘87
Giresse, Alain - 1970-71 Ageducatifs - Etoiles du Football
Henry, Thierry – 1996-97 Panini Foot ‘97
Lacombe, Bernard - 1971-72 Ageducatifs - Football en Action
Michel, Henri - 1970-71 Ageducatifs - Etoiles du Football
Platini, Michel - 1974-75 Ageducatifs - Football 74/75
Rocheteau, Dominique - 1975-76 Ageducatifs - Football 75/76
Tressor, Marius - 1970-71 Ageducatifs - Etoiles du Football
Zidane, Zinedine – 1991-92 Panini Foot ‘92
Germany
Beckenbauer, Franz - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Bierhoff, Oliver – 1987-88 Panini Fussball ‘88
Breitner, Paul - 1970-71 Bergmann: Fussball 70-71
Fichtel, Klaus - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Grabowski, Jurgen - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Held, Sigfried - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Heynckes, Josef - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Hoeneß, Uli - 1970-71 Bergmann: Fussball 70-71
Klinsmann, Jurgen – 1985-86 Panini Fussball ‘86
Klose, Miroslav – 2001-02 Panini Fussball ‘02
Lahm, Phillip – 2004-05 Panini Fussball ‘05
Maier, Josep - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Matthaus, Lothar - 1979-80 Americana München - Bundesliga-Finale '80
Muller, Gerhard - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Netzer, Gunter - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Neuer, Manuel – 2007-08 Panini Fussball ‘08
Rummenigge, Karl-Heinz - 1975-76 Bergmann - Fussball Bundesliga
Vogts, Berti - 1965-66 Bergmann: Bundesliga Sammelalbum
Walter, Fritz - 1937-40 Kicker Bilderwerk: Die Deutschen Nationalspieler
Hungary
Kubala, Laszlo - 1946-47 Nannina - Figurine Tecnicolor
Puskas, Ferenc - 1946-47 Nannina - Figurine Tecnicolor
Zsengeller, Gyula - 1946-47 Nannina - Figurine Tecnicolor
Italy
Cannavaro, Fabio – 1993-94 Panini Calciatori
Combi, Gianpiero - 1927-28 Cioccolata Lurati - Footballers
Del Piero, Alessandro – 1992-93 Panini Calciatori
Mazzola, Valentino – 1946-47 Cicogna – Omnia Sport
Meazza, Giuseppe - 1927-28 Cioccolata Lurati - Footballers
Rivera, Gianni - 1959-60 Sidam – Il Calcio Italiano
Schiavo, Angelo - 1927-28 Cioccolata Lurati - Footballers , 1927 - 28 Cioccolato Salvi
Totti, Francesco – 1994-95 Panini Calciatori
Netherlands
Bergkamp, Dennis - 1987 -88 AFC Ajax supportersclub De Ajacied - Player Postcards
Cruyff, Johan - 1967-68 Sicker Verlag - Bundesliga Asse 1968
Geels, Ruud - 1970-71 Vanderhout - Voetbalsterren in Aktie
Gullit, Ruud – 1979-80 Panini Voetbal ‘80
Hovenkamp, Hugo - 1971-72 Vanderhout - Voetbalsterren Eredivisie
Jansen, Wim - 1968-69 Vanderhout - Voetbalsterren
Kluivert, Patrick – 1995-96 Panini Voetbal ‘96
Koeman, Ronald - 1980-81 FC Groningen (Player Cards) , 1980-81 Panini Voetbal ‘81
Krol, Ruud - 1970-71 Vanderhout - Voetbalsterren in Aktie
Lenstra, Abe - 1938 Tik Tak – Voetbal in het Noorden
Muhren, Arnold - 1970-71 Vanderhout - Voetbalsterren in Aktie
Neeskens, Johan - 1970-71 Vanderhout - Voetbalsterren in Aktie
Rijkaard, Frank – 1981-82 Panini Voetbal ‘82
Seedorf, Clarence – 1993-94 Panini Voetbal ‘94
Van Basten, Marco - 1982-83 Panini Voetbal
Van de Kerkhof, Rene - 1970-71 Vanderhout - Voetbalsterren in Aktie
Van de Kerkhof, Willy - 1970-71 Vanderhout - Voetbalsterren in Aktie
Van Nistelrooy, Ruud – 1997-98 Panini Voetbal ‘98
Peru
Baylon, Julio - 1969 Importadores Peruanos – Album Idolos del Futbol Peruano
Chumpitaz, Hector - 1966 Ramirez & Espinar - Cracks del Futbol Mundial
Cubillas, Teofilo – 1969 Importadores Peruanos – Album Idolos del Futbol Peruano
Cueto, Cesar - 1969 Importadores Peruanos – Album Idolos del Futbol Peruano
Fernandez, Teodoro “Lolo” - 1942 Fabrica Glorieta - 3er Album "El Deportista
Gallardo, Alberto - 1964-65 Imperia - Calcio, Campionato Italiano di Calcio Serie A
Leon, Pedro “Perico” - 1966 Editorial Almex S.A: Deportistas Peruanos
Mellan, Fernando - 1966 Editorial Almex S.A: Deportistas Peruanos
Mifflin, Ramon - 1966 Editorial Almex S.A: Deportistas Peruanos
Mosquera, Jaime - 1966 Editorial Almex S.A: Deportistas Peruanos
Mosquera, Nemesio - 1966 Editorial Almex S.A: Deportistas Peruanos
Muñante, Juan “El Jet” - 1969 Importadores Peruanos – Album Idolos del Futbol Peruano
Oblitas, Juan Carlos - 1969 Importadores Peruanos – Album Idolos del Futbol Peruano
Quesada, Alfredo - 1969 Importadores Peruanos – Album Idolos del Futbol Peruano
Ramirez, Oswaldo - 1969 Importadores Peruanos – Album Idolos del Futbol Peruano
Risco, Rafael - 1966 Editorial Almex S.A: Deportistas Peruanos
Rostaing, Victor - 1966 Editorial Almex S.A: Deportistas Peruanos
Sotil, Hugo - 1969 Importadores Peruanos – Album Idolos del Futbol Peruano
Terry, Alberto - 1950 Album "Crack" - Colección Fotográfica de los Mejores Cracks del Futbol Peruano
Poland
Lewandowski, Robert – 2008-09 Panini Ekstraklasa
Portugal
Coluna, Mario - 1954-55 Fabrica Universal - Reis do Desporto
Eusebio - 1961-62 A. Francesa - Estrelas dos Estadios
Peyroteo, Fernando - 1937-38 Confeitaria Universo - Azes do Football
Ronaldo, Cristiano – 2002-03 Panini Megacraques
Soares, Jose Manoel “Pepe” - 1926 Fabrica Victoria - Colecção Desportiva
Spain
Alcantara, Paulino - 1922 Lit. Baño - Chocolate E. Juncosa (Sports Foot-Ball), 1922 Chocolate Eduardo Pi - Los Grandes Jugadores de Futbol - Serie I (F.C. Barcelona)
Armet, Juan - 1915 Editorial Tiket - Album de Foot-ball
Gento, Francisco - 1953-54 Bruguera (Turmo) - Ases del Futbol
Piera, Vicente - 1922 Lit. Baño - Chocolate E. Juncosa (Sports Foot-Ball), 1922 Chocolate Eduardo Pi - Los Grandes Jugadores de Futbol - Serie I (F.C. Barcelona)
Ramos, Sergio - 2004-05 Panini Liga Megacracks
Sagi-Barba, Emilio - 1922 Lit. Baño - Chocolate E. Juncosa (Sports Foot-Ball), 1922 Chocolate Eduardo Pi - Los Grandes Jugadores de Futbol - Serie I (F.C. Barcelona)
Samitier, Jose - 1922 Lit. Baño - Chocolate E. Juncosa (Sports Foot-Ball), 1922 Chocolate Eduardo Pi - Los Grandes Jugadores de Futbol - Serie I (F.C. Barcelona)
Sancho, Agustin - 1922 Lit. Baño - Chocolate E. Juncosa (Sports Foot-Ball), 1922 Chocolate Eduardo Pi - Los Grandes Jugadores de Futbol - Serie I (F.C. Barcelona)
Suarez, Luis - 1953-54 Bruguera (Turmo) - Ases del Futbol
Zamora, Ricardo - 1922 Lit. Baño - Chocolate E. Juncosa (Sports Foot-Ball), 1922 Chocolate Eduardo Pi - Los Grandes Jugadores de Futbol - Serie I (F.C. Barcelona)
United Kingdom
Banks, Gordon – 1962 Barratt & Co. – Famous Footballers A10
Best, George – 1964 Barratt & Co. – Famous Footballers A12.
Charlton, Robert “Bobby” - 1958-59 A&BC Chewing Gum, Footballers
Clough, Brian - 1958-59 A&BC Chewing Gum, Footballers
Edwards, Duncan – 1954 Barratt & Co. – Famous Footballers A2
Finney, Tom – 1948 Barratt & Co. – Famous Footballers
Gascoigne, Paul – 1986-87 Panini U.K. Football ‘87
Greaves, Jimmy – 1958 Cadet Sweets - Footballers
Matthews, Stanley - 1934 Carreras - Footballers
Moore, Bobby - 1962-63 A&BC Chewing Gum, Footballers (Bazooka)
Robson, Robert “Bobby” - 1958-59 A&BC Chewing Gum, Footballers
Wright, Willian “Billy” – 1947 Barratt & Co. – Famous Footballers
Uruguay
Andrade, Jose - 1924 Cigarrillos Super
Anselmo, Juan - 1924 Cigarrillos Super
Campolo, Antonio - 1924 Cigarrillos Super
Nasazzi, Jose - 1924 Chocolate Eduardo Pi - VIII Olimpiada Celebrada en Francia. Año 1924. , 1924 Cigarrillos Super
Petrone, Pedro - 1924 Cigarrillos Super
Scarone, Hector - 1924 Cigarrillos Super