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Topps Has A Lot Of Explaining To Do After Releasing This Fernando Mendoza Rookie Card [PHOTOS]

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Fernando Mendoza and his Topps card.
Fernando Mendoza and his Topps card. (Images via X, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

A Topps trading card of Fernando Mendoza has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. The photo on the card looks nothing like the former Indiana quarterback. Fans immediately noticed the mismatch.

The image circulated widely on X after one account noticed the major mistake. Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, has a very recognizable face. The card version does not match it.

Many collectors believe the listings use AI-generated images. Sellers appear to be posting early versions on eBay before physical cards arrive.

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Fernando Mendoza (Image Credits: Imagn)

One user simply labeled it “Pablo Mendoza.”

Another wrote, “No way that’s the actual card right? Looks like some AI slop to me.”

A third explained the likely cause: “It’s because it’s not the real card… it’s an eBay user using AI to try to garner early sales before they have the card in hand.”

Fernando Mendoza Collectors Call Out the Listings

Fernando Mendoza during practice.
Fernando Mendoza. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

More reactions followed the same theme. One collector stated, “The listings are using AI images.”

Another added, “Looks like ai slop.”

A final comment noted the volume of bad versions: “There’s SO many of them on eBay and they look nothing like Fernando.”

Mendoza rose from a lightly recruited prospect at Cal to a national champion at Indiana. His clean image and precise postgame interviews made him a fan favorite. The mismatched card undercuts that recognition for new collectors.

Topps has not publicly addressed the specific listings yet. In the meantime, buyers continue to flag the obvious discrepancies. The episode highlights ongoing problems with early AI-generated product photos in the sports card market.

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