A shirt worn by a teenage Pele during the 1958 World Cup final has sold for £3.6 million at auction, instantly becoming the second most valuable football jersey in history. The $5 million sale price in New York was only surpassed by the Argentina shirt worn by Diego Maradona in the infamous 'Hand of God' match against England at the 1986 World Cup, which fetched £7.1 million in 2022.
Auction Details and Record Sale
The blue shirt, bearing the famous No 10, was sold by Sotheby's in New York as part of 'The Beautiful Game' auction. It received a total of 10 bids and is now Pele's most valuable item of memorabilia ever sold at auction. Remarkably, the same shirt was previously sold in 2004 for just £70,505, highlighting its immense appreciation in value over two decades.
Pele scored twice against Sweden in the 1958 final as a 17-year-old, securing the first of his three World Cup titles. He still holds the record for the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.
Significance of the Shirt
"Today's result is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of one of the greatest footballers of all time," said Brendan Hawkes, Sotheby's head of sports strategy and development in New York. "This shirt is not only a lasting reminder of one of the most important moments in football history, but it is principally connected to the very moment that catapulted Pele into a global sporting icon."
Other Items in the Auction
The auction also featured other notable football memorabilia. The captain's armband worn by Maradona during the 1986 World Cup, including the 'Hand of God' goal against England, sold for £380,000. A shirt worn by Lionel Messi during Barcelona's dramatic 6–1 comeback victory over Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last 16 in 2017 fetched £161,482. David Beckham's shirt from his 50th England cap at the 2002 World Cup sold for £37,996.
