A Record‑Breaking Sale
A rare piece of football history changed hands this week when the jersey that Pelé wore during the 1958 World Cup final sold for $4.9 million at auction, establishing a new benchmark for sports memorabilia.
The shirt, emblazoned with the number 10, was worn by the 17‑year‑old Brazilian prodigy as he netted two goals in the final against Sweden, a match that secured Brazil’s first World Cup title in Stockholm.
The garment attracted intense competition, with ten bids from more than five prospective buyers, underscoring the enduring fascination with Pelé’s early brilliance.
Its sale eclipses all previous records for football shirts, second only to Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup jersey, which fetched $9.3 million, and marks a dramatic increase from the $105,600 it commanded at a 2004 auction.
Beyond the monetary value, the transaction reaffirms Pelé’s status as the youngest scorer in a World Cup final and highlights the growing market for iconic artifacts from the sport’s golden era.