More than six decades after helping Brazil conquer the world, Pelé has once again made history.
A match-worn shirt used by the Brazilian football legend during the 1958 FIFA World Cup final has been sold for an astonishing $4.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, making it one of the most valuable pieces of football memorabilia ever sold.
The sale places the iconic jersey second on the list of the world’s most expensive football shirts, behind only the Argentina shirt worn by Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England—the match forever remembered for the infamous “Hand of God” goal. That jersey fetched £7.1 million at auction in 2022.
A Shirt That Changed Football History
The jersey carries enormous historical significance.
Pelé wore it in the 1958 World Cup final against host nation Sweden, where the then-17-year-old announced himself to the world with a sensational performance, scoring twice as Brazil cruised to a 5-2 victory.
The triumph delivered Brazil’s first-ever FIFA World Cup title and transformed the teenage forward into a global football phenomenon.
To this day, Pelé remains the youngest player ever to score in a FIFA World Cup final, a record that has stood the test of time.
Fierce Bidding Drives Price to $4.9 Million
According to Sotheby’s, the historic jersey attracted 10 competitive bids from more than five bidders before finally selling for $4.9 million.
The remarkable figure also makes it the most valuable piece of Pelé memorabilia ever sold at auction.
The appreciation in value has been extraordinary.
The same shirt was sold in 2004 for just $105,600 (approximately £70,500), meaning its value has increased by more than forty times over the past two decades.
‘A Lasting Reminder of Football History’
Reacting to the record-breaking sale, Brendan Hawkes, Sotheby’s Head of Sports Strategy and Development, described the jersey as one of football’s greatest treasures.
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“Today’s result is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of one of the greatest footballers of all time,” Hawkes said.
“This shirt is not only a lasting reminder of one of the most important moments in football history, but is principally connected to the very moment that catapulted Pelé into a global sporting icon.”
Other Football Treasures Go Under the Hammer
The auction, themed “The Beautiful Game,” also featured several other historic football collectibles.
Among the standout sales was Diego Maradona’s captain’s armband from the 1986 FIFA World Cup, including the tournament in which he scored the famous “Hand of God” goal against England. The armband sold for $512,000 (about £380,000).
A Lionel Messi jersey worn during Barcelona’s unforgettable 6-1 UEFA Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 fetched $217,600 (around £161,500).
Also sold was the England shirt worn by David Beckham during his 50th international appearance at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which realised $51,200 (approximately £38,000).
The auction highlighted the growing global demand for iconic football memorabilia, with collectors willing to pay millions for items connected to defining moments in the sport’s history.