Non-fungible tokens are revolutionizing the way we collect and trade digital assets. Diving into the sports world, NFTs are providing users with the chance to own a piece of their favorite teams, athletes, and moments in history.
It is worth noting that the NFT market and the various platforms that support it are rapidly evolving, Hence, numerous platforms and offerings have emerged over the years to grace the space.
Basically, the interest to earn insight into the current trends and preferences in the NFT market, calls for the need to understand NFT drops, and particularly learn about the best and well-performing ones in the industry.
It is exciting to realize that the options for sports NFT drops are endless, from limited-edition trading cards to virtual fan experiences. Nonetheless, in this article, we’ll highlight the 10 best sports NFT drops, giving sports fans the inside scoop on the top collectibles available. So get ready to discover the future of sports memorabilia and the new way to gain investment opportunities, market insights, access to rare items, and a deeper connection to one’s favorite sports.
Key highlights:
- The sport industry has been one of the earliest adopters of NFTs
- There are NFT collections launched in partnership with major sports leagues such as NBA and the NFL
- Several fitness app use crypto tokens and NFTs to reward users for leading an active lifestyle
- While there’s a large number of sports-related NFT collections on the market, art NFTs remain the most valuable
The 10 best sports NFT drops: Discover the top collectibles for sports fans
Sport fans within the sports NFT ecosystem understand the mandate to stay updated on well-performing sport NFT platforms as soon as they are launched into the industry. This serves as a bid to fast-track their access to rare NFTs that are highly valued by fans and collectors. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best sports-related NFT projects that are currently available.
Our list features both upcoming NFT drops, as well as projects that have already established themselves in the crypto and sports communities.
Please note that the following selection of the best sport NFT drops is subjective. However, we believe that virtually any type of sport NFT user should find something that will pique their interest among the projects we have highlighted below:
- NBA Top Shot: A unique sport NFT platform integrated with the NBA
- Sorare: A unique blockchain platform for soccer collectibles
- Cristiano Ronaldo NFTs: A collection from Cristiano Ronaldo on Binance NFT
- NFL All Day: NFT platform based on the NFL
- WNBA Top Shot: Sports NFT platform for WNBA fans
- STEPN: Unique NFT platform promoting physical activity
- The Association: Dynamic NFTs based on NBA players
- Autograph: A sports NFT platform co-founded by NFL legend Tom Brady
- Step App: Encouraging physical activity with NFTs and token rewards
- Sweatcoin NFTs: Renowned NFT platform featuring scarce and unique digital collectibles
- Socios: A fan engagement platform using tokens and NFTs
1. NBA Top Shot: A unique sport NFT platform integrated with the NBA
NBA Top Shot is a digital collectible platform where fans can purchase, trade, and own unique, officially licensed video highlights from the National Basketball Association (NBA). These highlights, known as “moments,” are stored on the blockchain and are verified as authentic, limited edition collectibles.
Each moment has a limited edition run and a set value, with the rarest moments fetching high prices on the marketplace. The platform allows fans to trade, sell, or gift their moments to others, creating a marketplace where fans can buy, sell, and trade unique, one-of-a-kind pieces of NBA history.
Top Shot has seen a surge in popularity in recent months and has become a hot topic among NBA fans and collectors, with some of the rarest moments selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Unique collectibles
- Each Top Shot moment is verified and authenticated, which ensures that each collectible is unique and one-of-a-kind.
- It possesses potential for appreciation
- Easy to trade
- High demand which often results into limited supply
- High volatility
- Limited secondary market: As of the time of writing, the only way to buy and sell Top Shot moments is through the official NBA Top Shot marketplace, limiting the potential for price discovery and competition
2. Sorare: Unique Blockchain Platform Featuring Soccer Collectibles
Sorare is a blockchain-based platform for collecting and trading unique digital collectibles represented as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These NFTs are digital representations of rare and unique collectible cards featuring players from major soccer clubs, and they can be bought, sold, and traded on the Sorare platform.
Furthermore, Sorare provides a new way for fans to own and interact with their favorite players and teams, with the added benefits of ownership and scarcity provided by the blockchain technology. Additionally, Sorare offers a fun and engaging gaming experience, where players can use their NFTs to compete in online games and tournaments.
Founded in 2018, Sorare features a design that allows it to create a decentralized and secure way to manage the ownership and scarcity of digital collectibles.
- It offers users access to unique digital collectibles
- It provides a decentralized and secure way to help users to manage the ownership and scarcity of their assets
- The scarcity and rarity of each NFT, as well as Sorare’s potential use in online games and tournaments, can increase its value over time
- The limited availability of Sorare cards can make it difficult for collectors to obtain the cards they want, especially if they are highly sought after
- Sorare cards representing renowned players are expensive
3. Cristiano Ronaldo NFTs on Binance
On Binance NFT, fans of Cristiano Ronaldo can now buy, sell, and trade unique digital collectibles related to the player. Cristiano Ronaldo had launched his first NFT collection on Binance NFT. These NFTs are stored on the Binance blockchain and are verified for authenticity, making them one-of-a-kind items that can be valuable for fans and collectors.
Some of the NFTs related to Cristiano Ronaldo that are available on Binance NFT include rare moments from his games, such as goals and assists, as well as special collectibles, such as autographs and game-worn jerseys.
The launch of Cristiano Ronaldo NFTs on Binance NFT provides fans with a new and innovative way to engage with the player and to show their support. The platform also provides a new revenue stream for Ronaldo and his team, as fans will have the opportunity to purchase unique and valuable digital collectibles.
- Provides a new way for fans to connect with Christiano Ronaldo.
- Feature unique and valuable collectibles
- High demand of collectibles from fans leading to high prices
4. NFL All Day: An NFT platform by Dapper Labs that combines sports and web3
Dapper Labs has created an American football version of NBA Top Shot, with the aim of generating excitement with each new release. This NFT collection is engaging sports fans with web3, even though the prices aren’t as high as NBA Top Shot and the athletes aren’t as widely recognized globally.
The best moments from the NFL are officially licensed, allowing fans to own and trade them as they please. A Pat Mahomes NFT recently sold for a record-breaking $30,000, demonstrating the potential for growth as new seasons begin and rarity changes.
- Collectibles are offered at relatively affordable prices
- Officially licensed
- Subject to market volatility
5. WNBA Top Shot: A sport NFT platform featuring WNBA games
WNBA Top Shot is a new type of platform that allows fans to own unique, digitally-limited edition moments from WNBA games in the form of NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Each WNBA Top Shot moment is a highlight clip from a WNBA game that has been verified and packaged as an NFT. These moments can range from game-winning shots, amazing dunks, and key assists, to more personal moments such as player introductions and team celebrations.
WNBA Top Shot is seen as a way for fans to own a piece of WNBA history and for the league to offer fans a new way to engage with the sport and connect with other fans. Fans can buy, sell, and trade these moments on a marketplace, and the value of a moment can fluctuate based on supply and demand.
- Enables ownership of a unique piece of history
- Provides exclusive investment opportunities
- Its value is subjected to high fluctuations based on supply and demand
6. STEPN: Unique NFT platform promoting physical activity
STEPN is a unique NFT trading platform that was established to motivate individuals to engage in physical activity while they lead an active lifestyle. The STEPN ecosystem features the Green Metaverse Token (GMT).
The platform’s concept of incorporating sneaker NFTs sets it apart from other similar initiatives and makes it a one-of-a-kind project. With STEPN, users are offered intriguing benefits and reward users in the form of digital assets by exhibiting their efforts towards adopting exercise. Interested participants are required to purchase sneaker NFTs.
- Users are entitled to more rewards as they engage in more activities
- Offers numerous use cases
- It is prone to market volatility
7. The Association: Dynamic NFTs based on NBA players
The Association is an NFT collection of dynamic NFTs featuring NBA players. The reason why these NFTs are called “dynamic” is that their appearance changes over time based on the performance of each individual player and their team. The Association NFTs are officially licensed by the NBA and the first collection issued by The Association featured players that appeared in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Whenever a player reaches a milestone, their NFT is updated to reflect it. For example, if a player makes 4 or more three pointers in a game, their NFT is updated to include the “Splash” trait. A total of 30,000 The Association NFTs was released.
While The Association is one of the most interesting sports NFT collections due to its dynamic nature, it’s unclear at this time if the project plans to continue and issue new NFTs for future playoff seasons.
- Officially licensed by the NBA
- Dynamic NFTs that change based on player accomplishments
- It’s unclear if the project plans to issue any future collections
8. Autograph: A sports and celeb NFT platform co-founded by NFL legend Tom Brady
Autograph is an NFT platform that issues NFTs tied to various top athletes and celebrities. Autograph was founded by Tom Brady, who is one of the greatest players in the history of the American football league NFL.
The Autograph platform has partnered with numerous individuals who have made history in their respective sports. For example, the platform offers NFTs in collaboration with athletes such as Usain Bolt, Wayne Gretzky, Tony Hawk, Derek Jeter, Rafael Nadal Naomi Osaka and many other top competitors.
Some collections issued through Autograph are released in “mystery containers”, which collectors can buy and open to receive a random NFT from the collection. This gives users the chance to open a very rare NFT for a relatively low price.
- Features NFTs by top celebrities and athletes
- Provides rewards for the most passionate fans
- Secondary market is not very active
9. Step App: Encouraging physical activity with NFTs and token rewards
Step App is a move-to-earn application that incentivizes users to walk and participate in physical activities by offering rewards. The app incorporates elements of gamification, GameFi, and augmented reality to create an engaging user experience, similar to that of STEPN.
To earn tokens in Step App, users must first acquire and stake a specific type of NFT, typically a virtual sneaker. This setup integrates a practical aspect of fitness with the digital economy of NFTs, combining physical activity with virtual rewards.
The Step App operates on a dual-token system, consisting of the KCAL and FITFI tokens. KCAL serves as the primary rewards token within the Step App ecosystem and is also used for minting sneaker NFTs. On the other hand, the FITFI token is utilized for governance and staking purposes. Both tokens are available for trading on major cryptocurrency exchanges such as KuCoin, Bybit, and Bitget.
- Fun and potentially rewarding way to exercise
- Users can get deals on wellness goods and services by paying with KCAL tokens
- Users have to buy an NFT to start earning rewards
- The app has many similarities with STEPN
10. Sweatcoin NFTs: NFTs tied to the popular Sweatcoin app
Sweatcoin is a blockchain platform designed to track the physical activities of its users and offer rewards in digital currency, dubbed “Sweatcoins”.
In the case of Sweatcoin NFTs, they represent ownership of a limited edition item or access to exclusive experiences within the Sweatcoin app. For example, an NFT might grant the owner access to a premium version of the app or a unique virtual item.
The use of NFTs on the Sweatcoin platform allows for a new level of scarcity and value to be added to the digital currency. As the supply of certain NFTs is limited, they become more valuable over time, making them desirable for collectors and investors.
- It features scarce and unique non fungible collectibles
- Provides users with a secure and transparent ledger of transactions
- Price is volatile and subject to market forces
11. Socios: A fan engagement platform using tokens and NFTs
Socios is a blockchain-powered platform that makes it easy for fans to engage with their favorite clubs. Socios is perhaps best known for partnering with football clubs and leagues, but the platform also has partnerships with esports organizations, Formula 1 teams and brands from other sports.
When people think of Socios, their mind usually jumps to their fan tokens such as the FC Barcelona Fan Token and the Manchester City Fan Token. However, clubs partnered with Socios can also create NFTs through the platform and distribute them as a reward to their loyal fans.
For example, AC Milan created an NFT featuring a celebration after their star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a goal against rival team AS Roma.
- Partnerships with some of the biggest sports clubs in the world
- Loyal fans can earn NFTs
- Socios NFTs seem to have relatively low demand on the secondary market
The bottom line – Sports NFTs are poised to gain popularity
NFT projects tied to sports are poised for success as more and more people become attracted to the concept. With the possibility of rewards and benefits like meeting favorite athletes or receiving free tickets to NBA games, who would want to miss out on this opportunity? The cost of purchasing a NFT sport token is relatively low, making it accessible to a wider range of people.
Sports-related NFT projects provide a new way to get involved with your favorite teams, players and sports. As interest in investments continues to grow, sports NFTs are set to receive a significant boost. As such, enthusiasts are encouraged to get acquainted with the best of them as they continue to evolve.
So far, no sports NFT has made it to the list of the most expensive NFTs ever sold. Will this change in the future as the intersection of sports and NFTs grows in popularity?