Pelé's 1958 World Cup final shirt heads to Sotheby's auction in July

The shirt Pelé wore during Brazil’s 5-2 victory over Sweden in the 1958 World Cup final is heading to auction at Sotheby’s, with bidding open from June 29 to July 16. A public exhibition of the jersey will begin on July 1 at Sotheby’s Breuer building in New York.

Pelé was just 17 years old when he pulled on the handmade number 10 shirt at the Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm, scoring twice to help Brazil claim their first World Cup title. He remains the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final. His first goal — a chest control, a flick over a Swedish defender, and a precise finish — is still widely regarded as one of the tournament’s finest.

Brahm Wachter, head of Sotheby’s modern collectables, described the shirt’s significance plainly: “This is the garment worn by one of the greatest footballers in history on the night his reign began.”

After the final, Pelé gifted the shirt to his roommate and teammate Dida. It remained with Dida’s family for decades before being housed in a Brazilian museum and eventually acquired by its current anonymous owner in 2004.

Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, went on to win two further World Cup titles, including the 1970 tournament in Mexico. He passed away in December 2022 at the age of 82 following a battle with colon cancer.

The auction comes as football’s attention turns to the upcoming World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City — the venue where Pelé lifted the trophy in 1970 — is scheduled to host the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa.