Pele's 1958 World Cup Medal And Iconic No. 10 Jersey Set To Fetch £2 Million At Auction

Some of the most treasured items associated with Brazilian football icon Pele are set to go under the hammer ahead of the FIFA World Cup, with collectors expected to pay millions for pieces linked to one of the game’s greatest legends.

Among the headline attractions is Pele’s winners’ medal from the 1958 World Cup, the tournament that introduced the teenage sensation to the world stage. Sporting memorabilia specialists BUDDS expect the medal to fetch around £500,000 ($670,000) as part of a wider sale featuring approximately 450 World Cup-related items. The collection is estimated to generate around £2 million in total.

The 1958 tournament marked a defining moment in football history. At just 17 years old, Pele scored twice in Brazil’s 5-2 victory

over Sweden in the final, becoming the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final. The triumph delivered Brazil’s first World Cup title and launched an international career that would eventually include three World Cup victories.

Another prized piece from that famous final is also heading to auction. Sotheby’s will offer Pele match-worn No. 10 jersey in an online sale running from 29 June to 16 July in New York.

“This is the garment worn by one of the greatest footballers in history on the night his reign began,” Brahm Wachter, head of Sotheby’s modern collectables, said in a statement.

The shirt carries a remarkable history. After the final, Pele gifted it to his teammate and roommate Dida. The jersey remained with Dida’s family for decades before later finding its way into a Brazilian museum and eventually being acquired by a private collector.

Other Memorabilia Also On Offer

The BUDDS auction will also include several other historic World Cup artefacts, including England goalkeeper Gordon Banks’ shirt from the famous 1970 save against Pele and memorabilia from England’s 1966 World Cup triumph.

“This is the largest collection of World Cup memorabilia ever offered at auction, and it is difficult to imagine many sales that could rival it in terms of historical significance,” said David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia at BUDDS.

(With inputs from Agencies)