Pelé's Brazil jersey worn during 1958 World Cup final sells at auction for $4.9 million
The jersey worn by soccer legend Pelé for Brazil during the 1958 World Cup final sold at auction Thursday for $4.9 million through Sotheby's.
"Today's result is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of one of the greatest footballers of all time," Brendan Hawkes, Sotheby's head of sports strategy and development, said in a statement. "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."
There were 10 bids from more than five bidders, according to Sotheby's. The final price set the record for Pelé sports memorabilia, passing a 1958 Alifabolaget #635 Pelé rookie card, graded a PSA 9, which sold last month for $976,000.
The match-worn jersey went up for auction on June 29, the 68th anniversary of Brazil's win over Sweden. The final price comes in several million short of the record $9.3 million that Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" jersey from the 1986 World Cup sold for in 2022, which was also through Sotheby's.
Pelé was 17 years old when he scored six goals during the 1958 World Cup, which ended with Brazil winning its first world title. In the final, Pelé scored twice during a 5-2 win over Sweden.
Following the match, Pelé, who died in 2022, gifted the No. 10 jersey to Dida, his World Cup teammate. In 1993, it was donated to the Museum of Sport in Brazil before it was auctioned off by Christie's Auction in 2004 for $105,000.
