SAO PAULO — As football enthusiasts gear up for the 2026 World Cup, an iconic jersey from the legendary player Pele is set to go under the hammer.
The match-worn No. 10 shirt from the 1958 World Cup final, once donned by the late Pele, will be available in an online auction hosted by Sotheby’s from June 29 to July 16.
“This is the garment worn by one of the greatest footballers in history on the night his reign began,” said Brahm Wachter, head of Sotheby’s modern collectables, in a statement.
This is the jersey worn by Pele in his first World Cup final. At the age of 17, Edson Arantes do Nascimento — known as Pele — scored two goals in Brazil’s 5-2 victory against host nation Sweden at Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm, making him the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.
Pele, who passed away at 82 in December 2022 due to colon cancer, gifted the bespoke shirt to his roommate and fellow teammate Dida after the match. The shirt remained in Dida’s family for decades before being displayed in a Brazilian museum, eventually being acquired by its current anonymous owner in 2004.
The estimated value of the jersey is $6 million, potentially making it the most valuable piece of memorabilia ever sold from a player who has won football’s premier trophy three times.
The Brazilian legend’s first goal in that final is celebrated as one of the best in World Cup history. He controlled the ball with his chest, skillfully flicked it over a Swedish defender, and scored; his second goal came late in the match with a powerful header.
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Pele later secured his third World Cup title in 1970 in Mexico, one of the three countries hosting this year’s tournament alongside the United States and Canada. The historic Azteca Stadium, where he celebrated his victory, will host the opening game, featuring Mexico facing off against South Africa.
The auction will also feature a public exhibition starting July 1 at Sotheby’s Breuer building in New York.