Is Mario Balotelli [Prizm] #26 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2014 Panini Prizm World Cup Stars · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mario Balotelli [Prizm] #26 sells for $39.00 against $7.37 raw: a $31.63 spread, 5.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.19) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $7.37
- Grade 9.5
- $39.00
- PSA 9
- $35.19
- Gem premium
- 5.3×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $39.00 | +$6.63 | −$18.37 | −$118 |
| PSA 9 | $35.19 | +$2.82 | −$22.18 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $7.37 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $36.14 | −$21.23 |
| 50% | $37.09 | −$20.28 |
| 75% | $38.05 | −$19.32 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Mario Balotelli [Prizm] #26 — FAQ
Is Mario Balotelli [Prizm] #26 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mario Balotelli [Prizm] #26 sells for $39.00 against $7.37 raw: a $31.63 spread, 5.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.19) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
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