Sotheby’s to auction Pelé’s 1958 World Cup jersey
The garment, worn by the late Brazilian legend during his first World Cup final, will be available for bidding from June 29 to July 16, with a public exhibition commencing in New York.
Sotheby’s has confirmed it will auction a match-worn number 10 jersey worn by the late Pelé during the 1958 World Cup final. The online sale is scheduled to run from June 29 to July 16, coinciding with the lead-up to the upcoming tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The jersey is the specific garment worn by Pelé in his first World Cup final, where he scored twice in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over hosts Sweden. At the time of the match, Pelé was 17 years old, making him the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final. His first goal involved controlling the ball with his chest, flicking it over a Swedish defender, and scoring, while his second was a header near the end of the match.
Brahm Wachter, head of Sotheby’s modern collectables, described the item as the garment worn by Pelé on the night his reign began. The auction house stated that the shirt holds significant historical weight as one of the most iconic pieces of football memorabilia.
After the 1958 final, Pelé gifted the handmade shirt to his roommate and teammate, Dida. The jersey remained with Dida’s family for decades before being housed in a Brazilian museum. It was later acquired by an anonymous owner in 2004.
A public exhibition of the jersey will be held at Sotheby’s Breuer building in New York starting July 1. Pelé, who died in December 2022 at the age of 82, went on to win his third World Cup title in 1970 in Mexico. The opening game of this year’s World Cup will be played at Mexico’s Azteca Stadium, the same venue where Pelé won his third title.
