July 13, 2026 - 8:00 am

Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be the cover athlete for the 2026 Topps Flagship Football trading card set.

The Topps cards featuring Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, will go on sale on Aug. 21.

Mendoza worked with Topps on the brand’s Topps Now print-on-demand program during the 2026 NFL Draft, which allows customers to order cards for a limited time to commemorate a significant sports moment. Mendoza’ Topps Now card amassed 126,000 orders in 48 hours, with one fan receiving a one-of-one Mendoza autograph card inscribed with “My 1st NFL Auto” on it.

After his first autographed card for the draft, Mendoza has added inscriptions tied to his new home city on other cards, with one reading “Viva Las Vegas.”

Aside from being set to be the cover athlete for the card series, Mendoza is also a collector himself. Mendoza owns his own one-of-a-kind 2025 Topps Bowman Chrome Superfractor card of himself at Indiana, which he scored via a trade with a classmate at the university. Mendoza traded the student tickets to Indiana’s College Football Playoff games and a jersey for the card, according to Topps.

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.