Mark Cuban Reportedly Buys 1-of-1 Mendoza RPA From 2026 Topps Flagship Football
A collector emailed Cuban directly about the Fernando Mendoza 1/1 rookie patch auto, and his son Jake weighed in. The price is not public.
Mark Cuban has reportedly bought the 1-of-1 rookie patch autograph (RPA) of Fernando Mendoza from 2026 Topps Flagship Football, a card whose price tag nobody has disclosed. The former Dallas Mavericks owner is the reported buyer of what is the only copy of Mendoza's Flagship RPA.
How the Mendoza 1/1 RPA Reached Cuban
Per social media outlets, the collector who pulled the card emailed Cuban directly to ask whether he was interested. Cuban then checked with his son Jake, a sports card collector, before buying.
According to reports, Jake told his father that if Fernando turns out to be a bust, Cuban would be a fool to have paid, but that if Fernando becomes the great player people expect, the purchase would look like a bargain.
The price Cuban paid has not been made public. The release of Flagship Football came at the close of August.
Why Cuban and Mendoza Are Linked
Mendoza was the 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick and plays quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Cuban said in a Front Office Sports post dated May 5, 2026 that he personally provided the NIL money that allowed Indiana to sign Mendoza before the 2025 season. Cuban is an Indiana University alumnus.
The season ended with Indiana unbeaten at 16-0, a Heisman Trophy for Mendoza, and the program's first football National Championship.
Mendoza 1-of-1 Sales for Comparison
- $78,000: his 2025 Bowman Chrome University superfractor, graded BGS Mint 9, sold January 29, 2026 after 50 bids on Alt. Card Ladder currently values it at $84,640.
- $25,000: his 1-of-1 1991 Platinum parallel autograph from 2026 Topps Flagship Football sold September 23, 2026 on a best offer, reportedly listed at $37,000.
For another recent big sale, see the 1958 Mantle PSA 9 record sale.
What It Means for Collectors
Only three products carry Mendoza cards in a Raiders uniform so far: 2026 Flagship, Bowman Football and Topps Now, which keeps the roster of his Raiders cards short.
In buying a high-value card, Cuban is also following in the footsteps of Kevin O'Leary, his co-star on Shark Tank.
TCGKing's take: the missing price is the story. Until the buyer or seller discloses it, the $25,000 Platinum sale and the $78,000 Bowman Chrome superfractor are the closest reference points we have, and neither is the Flagship RPA.
What is still unknown
- How much Cuban paid, and whether he or Topps has confirmed the deal.
- Whether the card is graded.
TCGKing updates this article as soon as Topps (Fanatics) announces these details. Follow all Topps news or get it in our newsletter.
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