Game-changing innovations introduced in 2025:
Collected
2025 inCollectingTrends
From Labubus and Superman, to Michael Jordan and Pokémon Prismatic Evolutions, 2025’s hottest trends showed yet again how eBay isn’t just a marketplace—it’s a cultural barometer. Fandoms, sports, pop culture, and nostalgia collided on the marketplace, revealing the items that mattered most this year. Generations continued to unite over Pokémon and LEGO. Collectors chased PSA 10s in droves. And Hot Wheels and Michael Jordan dominated the search bar.
Collectors didn’t just follow cultural moments—they collected them. And eBay continued to be a reflection of what the world watched, played, and coveted.
With this 2025 eBay Collected Report, we revisit the passions, moments, and trends that shaped global culture and inspired fans to add the year’s hottest items to their collections, available only on eBay.
The top 10 most-searched collectibles of 2025:
*Rankings based on searches in eBay.com’s Collectibles category from January-October 2025
The year
in sports
From Jayden Daniels to the LeBron James Kenbassadors Doll, the year’s biggest moments in sports were mirrored on eBay—where top sales and searches tell the story of record-breaking plays and breakout stars.
2025’s most-searched players
eBay’s top-searched athletes featured legends from across the eras, and included icons like Mickey Mantle and Michael Jordan, and young stars like Victor Wembanyama and Caitlin Clark.
NBA
*Rankings based on searches on eBay.com's Sports Memorabilia Cards and Fan Shop category from January-September 2025
NFL
*Rankings based on searches on eBay.com's Sports Memorabilia Cards and Fan Shop category from January-September 2025
MLB
*Rankings based on searches on eBay.com's Sports Memorabilia Cards and Fan Shop category from January-September 2025
NHL
*Rankings based on searches on eBay.com's Sports Memorabilia Cards and Fan Shop category from January-September 2025
WNBA
*Rankings based on searches on eBay.com's Sports Memorabilia Cards and Fan Shop category from January-September 2025
Record-breakers and rising rookies
There was no shortage of incredible moments this year. Collectors flocked to eBay to search for rookies on the rise—like Jayden Daniels and Nick Kurtz—and record-shattering stars—like Shohei Ohtani and Alex Ovechkin. Because when players change the game, eBay searches skyrocket.
*Percentages based on global searches on eBay, year over year (January-September 2025 vs. January-September 2024)
Nick Kurtz
+23,000%
Jayden Daniels
+1,900%
Cooper Flagg
+1,500%
Drake Maye
+620%
Alex Ovechkin
+600%
Pete Crow Armstrong
+490%
Roman Anthony
+470%
Amen Thompson
+160%
Shohei Ohtani
+110%
*Percentages based on global searches on eBay, year over year (January-September 2025 vs. January-September 2024)
Global superstars
The Hobby knows no borders. From Victor Wembanyama to Connor Bedard, 2025 celebrated athletes who inspire fans across the globe. Across eBay’s global markets, top-searched athletes reflected hometown heroes.
*Rankings based on searches in the Collectibles category from eBay.com, eBay.ca, eBay.co.uk, eBay.de, and eBay.fr from January–October 2025.
Michael Jordan
USA
Lewis Hamilton
United Kingdom
Connor Bedard
Canada
Michael Schumacher
Germany
Victor Wembanyama
France
*Rankings based on searches in the Collectibles category from eBay.com, eBay.ca, eBay.co.uk, eBay.de, and eBay.fr from January–October 2025.
Quirky
collectibles
Beyond trading cards, fans searched for quirky and unexpected items tied to the year’s most iconic cultural moments.
Masters Gnome
April 13, 2025:
On the final day of The Masters golf tournament, searches for these beloved gnomes increased nearly 170% on eBay.
*Percentages based on global searches between April 6-13, 2025
LeBron James Kenbassadors Doll
April 14, 2025:
On the day the LeBron James Kenbassadors Doll was released, eBay users searched for the doll over 1,900x per hour.
*Percentages based on global searches between April 7-14, 2025
George Costanza Bobblehead
August 2025:
When the Yankees brought back the viral Seinfeld bobblehead, searches for ‘Costanza bobblehead’ increased more than 1,000% compared to the month prior.
*Percentages based on global searches from August 2025 vs. July 2025
Rising resale value
Compared to five years ago, a diverse array of sports cards captured attention in 2025, fueling surges in resale value that prove that the global collectibles market is more diversified and competitive than ever.
*Percentages based on average sales price (USD) of global sold items in eBay's Trading Cards category from January-September 2025 vs. January-September 2020
MJ maintains
GOAT status
Goldin set a new record in October 2025 with a signed 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card fetching $2.7M, marking the all-time highest price ever paid for a trading card with an aftermarket signature. The PSA 9 card featured the beautiful, bold autograph by the legendary MJ, which was graded an Auto 10.
Collectibles
on eBay Live
eBay’s livestream shopping platform, eBay Live, continued to evolve alongside the collectibles community in 2025, reflecting the community’s appetite for entertainment and commerce. Throughout the year, eBay Live made waves by blending real-time interaction with rare inventory, celebrities, and more.
eBay Live in 2025:
- Expanded internationally in May 2025 at MCM London Comic Con
- Launched eBay Live on Tour, a pop-up series of live shopping events across the U.S.
- Hosted livestreams with fan-favorite celebrities—from the Backstreet Boys to Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Attracted 40,000 viewers to a Labubu stream
- Sold notable inventory, such as rare Pokémon cards and a Jayden Daniels single for nearly $9k
The year in
TCG, Comics,
and Culture
The year’s most sought-after trading card games, comic heroes, and anime and manga titles, from nostalgic throwbacks to emerging fandoms, that redefined collecting in 2025.
Cards at the top
of the stack
Collectors chased new trading card game sets this year with the same passion they reserve for vintage grails. Pokémon continues to be a cornerstone, with sets like Prismatic Evolutions and Destined Rivals ranking at the top of the most-searched list, while Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy’s epic crossover brought in a surge of gamers and collectors alike.
*Rankings based on most-searched terms on eBay globally from January-October 2025
Soaring
superheroes
Fans turned to iconic heroes and breakout series that defined this year’s biggest comic book moments.
Comics most-wanted
Thanks to cinematic revivals and anniversary reprints from Marvel and DC, collectors turned to eBay to chase grail issues and modern variants. But they weren't alone—one breakout series left a major mark on 2025, with Invincible searches jumping 50% this year.
*Rankings based on global searches in eBay.com’s Comic Books and Memorabilia category from January-October 2025 and global searches on eBay, year over year (January-October 2025 vs. January-October 2024)
Don’t call it a
comeback
The DCU has arrived. Marked by the long-awaited return of “Superman” and the second season of “Peacemaker,” DC Comics reemerged as a major force in pop culture, positioning DC at the center of collectibles conversation.
*Based on global eBay searches from July 2025 and August 2025, respectively.
Core four
"Superman" wasn't the only hero to drive hype this year. Anticipation for Marvel's "Fantastic Four" film reignited interest in the franchise, with searches for each core member of the team soaring on eBay throughout the year.
*Percentages based on global searches on eBay, year over year (January-October 2025 vs. January-October 2024)
Fandoms at the forefront
Blockbuster adaptations, anniversary milestones, and new story arcs put manga and anime at the forefront of global fandom on eBay. Demand was immense, with one million manga listings available on any given day this year, and some significant spikes on eBay.
*Percentages based on global searches on eBay, year over year (October 2025 vs. October 2024)
SEARCHES INCREASED BY:
Solo Leveling
+520%
Apothecary Diaries
+125%
Chainsaw Man
+79%
Demon Slayer
+79%
One Piece
+70%
*Percentages based on global searches on eBay, year over year (October 2025 vs. October 2024)
Charizard blazes
a new trail
The highest value trading card game single sold on eBay this year was a Pokémon Charizard Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Rare #4 PSA 10, which sold for $270K+ in August 2025. The Charizard card sale surpassed all sports card singles during this time period, underscoring Charizard’s place among the Hobby’s most sought-after icons.
*Based on global sales data on eBay from January-September 2025
The year
in toys
While one mischievous monster took over toy culture, nostalgic favorites and cute collectibles connected collectors across generations in 2025.
Most-searched monsters
Pop Mart's viral monsters took culture by storm, sparking long lines, record-breaking sellouts, celebrity mentions, and a hot secondary market on eBay, with searches for Labubu increasing over 2,600% year over year.
*Percentages based on global searches on eBay, year over year (January-October 2025 vs. January-October 2024), rankings based on global searches on eBay January-October 2025
Top searched colors:
Top searched series and collabs:
Internet
icons
Social media-fueled toy trends turned surprise unboxings and adorable collectibles into 2025’s biggest must-haves.
The magic’s
in the mystery
Fueled by social media unboxings and the thrill of surprise, the number of blind boxes sold on eBay surged by more than 470% in 2025.
*Percentages based on the number of items sold globally on eBay, year over year (January-September 2025 vs. January-September 2024)
The appeal of adorable
Cute and quirky defined 2025. Top trending toys like ultra-soft Jellycats or glow-in-the-dark Smiski figures have transcended collecting, becoming both fashion statements and cultural icons. And these adorable items are not just generating social buzz, they’re translating to real purchases on eBay.
*Percentages based on the number of items sold globally on eBay, year over year (January-September 2025 vs. January-September 2024)
Oldies but goodies
Trends may come and go, but with hundreds of searches for timeless toys like LEGO or Barbie every minute, it’s clear that the classics never really go out of style.
*Based on global eBay searches from January-October 2025
SEARCHES INCREASED BY:
LEGO
+425 per min
Hot Wheels
+150 per min
Funko Pop!
+130 per min
Barbie
+110 per min
*Based on global eBay searches from January-October 2025
The leading Labubu
The Labubu wave reached new heights on eBay in August 2025, when Mega Labubu Tec 1000% Freckles—a limited-edition figure known for its oversized scale and collectible “Freckles” paint variation—sold for $5,400, the highest value Labubu sale of 2025 on eBay.
*Based on global eBay sales data from January-September 2025
Harnessing
the power
of AI and
innovation
eBay rolled out several innovations to the collector community this year, utilizing AI to build deeply personalized, seamless experiences and expanding its partnership with PSA to simplify the buying, grading, and selling process for buyers and sellers.
PSA population data
Magical listing technology
PSA grading & storage at checkout
Live Activities on iOS
Improved search functionality
All-new price guide
Game-changing innovations introduced in 2025:
-
PSA population data
-
Magical listing technology
-
PSA grading & storage at checkout
-
Live Activities on iOS
-
Improved search functionality
-
All-new price guide