Pelé's shirt from the 1958 World Cup final sells for $4.9 million

Sotheby’s auction house announced on Thursday the sale of the shirt worn by Brazilian legend Pelé when he scored two goals in the 1958 FIFA World Cup final for $4.9 million at a public auction, making it the most valuable football memorabilia item associated with the soccer icon.

The auction house stated that the number 10 shirt, worn by Pelé at just 17 years old to lead Brazil to a 5-2 victory over host nation Sweden in Stockholm and secure their first World Cup title, attracted ten bids from more than five bidders.

This deal made the shirt the second most expensive football shirt ever sold at auction, behind Diego Maradona’s shirt, which he wore when he scored his famous handball goal for Argentina against England in the 1986 World Cup, and which sold for $9.3 million in 2022.

Pelé, who died in 2022 at the age of 82, scored two goals in the 1958 final and still holds the record for the youngest player to score in a World Cup final match.

According to Sotheby’s, the shirt was previously sold at auction in 2004 for £70,505 (equivalent to $105,600).