Eli Manning, soccer groupie? Giants legend boosts World Cup fandom — and predicts ‘long shot’ to take trophy: ‘You just need a magic play’   

Even a soccer legend can be a merch-collecting fanboy.

Former Italian defender Alessandro Nesta has amassed coveted Panini stickers celebrating FIFA soccer stars since before he first saw himself on one — at age 17.

“For my whole life, I collected Panini stickers and said to myself, ‘One day I want to be on one,’ and then it was there, and my family’s dream came true,” Nesta said at a Panini event tied to the World Cup at Rockefeller Center on Thursday. 

Shaun O’Hara (left), Eli Manning (middle) and Alessandro Nesta (right) showed up in New York for the Panini FIFA player event and traded player cards. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post

The brand is once again pumping up the premier global tournament as it descends on the Big Apple and other cities this week, bringing together the most fanatic soccer fans and sticker collectors — including World Cup champ Nesta. 

The 50-year-old ex-baller converged on Midtown, along with former New York Giants Eli Manning and Shaun O’Hara, to promote a two-week Panini fan experience to fire up the most fervent of traders.

The trio of pros briefly took over the Rock Center ticket booth at 33 W. 50th St., where fans will be able to buy sticker packs and albums honoring the 48 World Cup teams, boasting the largest album ever with 980 player stickers. 

Merchandise from the sports and collectibles company — the exclusive trading card and sticker partner of FIFA, releasing its first World Cup collection in 1970 — will be available to fervent fans from Saturday, June 6, through July 19.

Manning, O’Hara and Nesta playfully bartered between themselves for the most desired cards they could find, but it was clear that at least one of the pro athletes wasn’t the most dedicated soccer aficionado.

As wide-eyed, seemingly oblivious Manning shuffled through dozens of cards alongside O’Hara and Nesta, he seemed more impressed by their colorful presentation than by their star power.

Panini stickers are traditionally traded between soccer fans during the World Cup. Getty Images

“I like the blue-border one,” he remarked at one point, before being told he should trade for one of 18-year-old Spanish player Lamine Yamal, who is expected to be Spain’s star player in the World Cup. 

Nesta informed Manning that Yamal is the best footballer right now and the “new Messi” — alluding to South American star Lionel Messi, oft-considered one of the greatest ever.

“He is special, and when he touches the ball, he is different from other players,” Nesta remarked of Yamal. 

“Oh wow — I just made one of the greatest trades of all time,” Manning smiled, displaying his card.

In-the-know Nesta also predicted that France and Spain will make it to the World Cup final, with the former winning it all, odds that are backed up by many odds-makers. France is hosting the Ivory Coast today in a warm-up game before the road to the Jules Rimet Trophy begins.

Manning — who, like O’Hara, wore red, white and blue in support of the US — revealed plans to take his family to MetLife Stadium, his former championship field, to watch France play Senegal on June 16. 

A Panini pop-up truck was parked outside of Rockefeller Center to promote the brand on Thursday. Hannah Sulcov/NYPost

“Obviously, I have to root for the home country,” he said. “It’s probably a long shot, but I’ve been a part of some long shots before, and it worked out — you just need a magic play,” said Manning, who helped the Giants to a stunning 17-14 upset over the New England Patriots at Super Bowl XLII in 2008. 

Nesta, who played his first World Cup in 1998 at age 19, said the tourney atmosphere is different than anything else.

In that first game, his legs kept shaking; he recounted feeling immense pressure to do well for Italy. 

“I remember during the final I did not sleep during the night, but I still had energy because I knew how much it meant for my country,” said Nesta, who appeared in three championships total and was on the 2006 team that defeated France 5-3 in a penalty shootout.

Fans can purchase sticker packs and catalogs at Rockefeller Center pop-up until mid-July. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post

After that huge victory, his team returned to Rome, where 3 million fans surrounded the Piazza Navona to welcome the team.

When Manning asked how he celebrated that year, Nesta said his team partied hard for three days — but joked that he only remembers the first three hours.

“If you win the World Cup, your career changes,” said Nesta, who now lives in Miami. “The following year, you live a different life.” 

Oft-celebrated Manning could himself wind up among the screaming throngs who make the World Cup such a vocal global force.

“I am most excited to see the fandom and seeing the difference in an American football game and a worldwide football game, watching the fans sing their songs and wave their flags,” Manning said. 

O’Hara agreed, adding that regional rabblerousers will take things up a notch. 

“The tri-state area kids being able to see superstars in-person, watch the Nestas of the world, will add another level of attachment and excitement,” O’Hara said. “They can watch and say, ‘I want to be like him’ or ‘I want to be on a Panini card, too.’”