2000 – young ohobby was just 3 years old at the time of the Portugal vs England in the Euro 2000. He was watching the game and he watches Figo blast the football to the top corner – he can’t quite remember the 2-2, but he sure does remember the 3-2. Nuno Gomes. First goal for Portugal. His pointing celebration to some bench player and then the camera pans out to the coach, clapping. That memory still holds on in the back of my mind. Rent free. On that day, I knew who my favorite player was.
Nuno Gomes (3-2) | Portugal 3-2 Inglaterra | Euro 2000
It’s safe to say I felt a connection. A connection to a player – we all felt that, at some point in our life.I remember being a kid and replicating his celebration in the goal – pointing not sure to whom – but pointing. You just connect with a player and you love to see it play – in the goods and in the bads. My player was, and still is, Nuno.
Fast forward to my adulthood, and when I got some, as they say “dumb money” I decided to get a Nuno Gomes PC. I’ve pretty much got all of his Portuguese stuff – all of his Boavista stuff, all of his Benfica stuff, his Braga sticker + card and believe it or not his Blackburn card.
All of Nuno Gomes’ Megacraques cards – including an on card auto on his 2003 Panini Megacraques
It took me almost two years to finally find a copy of Nuno Gomes’ rookie. It’s one of those hobby moments where you feel you hit a grail (well I did, but you get what I mean). And I decided to test my grading skills and sent it to PSA. At that time, there was not a single rookie of his graded (which shows you how hard it is to get a copy of his rookie). I remember I thought it would get a 6 – I did not mind, it’s for the PC so, who cares right? – so I sent it to PSA.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CV1BWmAAxhQ/ – before PSA
It came PSA 8 – the best graded card of his. It makes it the best copy in the world. There is no other better Nuno Gomes Rookie out there. I was super happy. Again I graded it for the PC but once I found out about the grade, I was ecstatic.
https://www.instagram.com/ohobbyemportugues/p/CthoJYsMqia/ – after PSA
Skipping a beat, and we land in 2025. I was randomly talking to a friend of mine who is a big (a BIGGGG) fan of Benfica. And he casually said to me, with the calmest tone ever, “oh, yeah, by the way I’m going to have lunch with Nuno this weekend”. And my eyes lit. I knew I had the opportunity of a lifetime to get an autograph on one of my cards. And I thought to myself “I have to have him sign my slab – it’s the most logical thing to do”. And I did so:
1994-95 Panini Futebol Nuno Gomes Rookie PSA 8 with Auto on the Slab!
Now I own the dopest card, probably I will ever own on my collection – a true 1/1 in all aspects. Not only do I own the best rookie Nuno Gomes on planet Earth, I also own it with his own auto. I chose the best ink to do it – the gold ink is just majestic.
Good things come to those who wait. Good things come to you. I wish that little 3 year old kid would know that somewhere down the line he’d be writing about his favorite childhood player while staring at the best possible memorabilia piece he will ever own of that player.
Ohobby out.
PS: I’ve noticed after writing the article that I’ve written similar words to the 8th of November of 2021 post. Curious… very curious.
