Pele’s 1958 World Cup Final Shirt Sells for $4.9 Million
Pele’s iconic 1958 World Cup final shirt fetches $4.9 million, becoming the most valuable memorabilia linked to the Brazilian football legend.
The Pele World Cup shirt worn during the 1958 FIFA World Cup final has sold for $4.9 million at auction, making it the most valuable item of memorabilia ever associated with the Brazilian football icon.
Auction house Sotheby’s announced the sale on Thursday, revealing that the famous number 10 shirt attracted 10 bids from more than five bidders. Pele wore the shirt as a 17-year-old when Brazil defeated hosts Sweden 5-2 in Stockholm to win the country’s first FIFA World Cup title.
The Pele World Cup shirt is now the second most expensive football shirt ever sold at auction. It trails only the shirt worn by Diego Maradona during Argentina’s 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final victory over England, which sold for $9.3 million in 2022 after the match that featured the famous “Hand of God” goal.
Pele, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 82, scored twice in the 1958 final and remains the youngest player ever to score in a FIFA World Cup final. His performance helped secure Brazil’s first world title and marked the beginning of one of the greatest careers in football history.
According to Sotheby’s, the Pele World Cup shirt had previously been sold at auction in 2004 for 70,505 pounds ($105,600). Its latest sale highlights the enduring global appeal of football history and the lasting legacy of one of the sport’s greatest players.
The record-breaking auction also reflects the growing demand for historic sporting memorabilia, with collectors continuing to place significant value on items connected to football’s most iconic moments and legendary players.
What piece of football memorabilia do you think deserves to become the most valuable in history?
