An iconic piece of football history, the jersey worn by the late Pelé during the 1958 World Cup final, is set to go under the hammer at Sotheby's. The auction house announced on Tuesday that the legendary number 10 shirt will be offered in an online sale running from June 29 to July 16.
Brahm Wachter, head of Sotheby's modern collectables, said: "This is the garment worn by one of the greatest footballers in history on the night his reign began." The shirt was worn by a 17-year-old Pelé in Brazil's 5-2 victory over Sweden at the Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm, where he scored twice, becoming the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final.
Pelé, who died in December 2022 at age 82, gifted the handmade shirt after the match to his teammate and roommate Dida. It remained with Dida's family for decades before being displayed in a Brazilian museum and later acquired by its current anonymous owner in 2004.
The auction will include a public exhibition of the jersey starting July 1 at Sotheby's Breuer building in New York, offering a rare chance to view this historic artefact. Pelé went on to win a third World Cup in 1970, and the Azteca Stadium, where he was crowned champion, will host the opening game of the upcoming World Cup.
