A shirt that Pelé wore in the first World Cup final won by Brazil, in 1958, will be briefly shown to the public before its auction in New York, Sotheby’s announced this Tuesday (2).
At just 17 years old, the King of football scored two goals in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over Sweden, the host country of the 1958 World Cup. Pelé was the youngest player to play and score goals in a World Cup final.
Sotheby’s will display the number 10 jersey on the occasion of the 2026 World Cup in North America, which will be played from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The piece can be seen from July 1st at the auction house’s new headquarters, the Breuer Building, in Manhattan. The sale will receive bids from June 29th to July 16th.
Valued at more than US$6 million (R$30 million), the shirt could become one of the most expensive in the history of the sport.
Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt sold for US$9.3 million (R$46 million at current prices) in 2022, a record for items used at sporting events.
The uniform was worn by the Argentine star on June 22, 1986, in Mexico City, during the World Cup quarter-final match against England. Argentina won 2-1 thanks to two legendary goals from the player, one of them with his hand, validated by the referee.
The record was broken a few months later by a jersey worn by basketball star Michael Jordan in his final season with the Chicago Bulls, which sold for US$10.1 million (R$50 million at current prices).
In a statement, Sotheby’s states that Edson Arantes do Nascimento presented the 1958 final shirt to teammate Dida.
Dida’s family (Edvaldo Alves de Santa Rosa) kept the shirt for decades in Maceió, Alagoas. In 1993, the piece was donated to a museum, which auctioned it off in 2004, when it was purchased by its current owner.
“The Beautiful Game,” the auction organized by Sotheby’s to celebrate significant objects from football history, will also include the armband Maradona wore in the famous “Hand of God” quarter-final match and pieces worn by Argentine star Lionel Messi during games.
