Pelé's 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9m

A shirt worn by Pelé during the 1958 World Cup final has sold for $4.9 million (£3.6 million) at a Sotheby's auction in New York, becoming the second most valuable football jersey ever sold at auction. The record remains held by the Argentina shirt Diego Maradona wore when he scored the 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup, which fetched £7.1 million in 2022.

Auction details and bidding

The auction, part of Sotheby's 'The Beautiful Game' sale, attracted 10 bids from more than five bidders. The final price far exceeded the previous sale of the same shirt in 2004, when it sold for $105,600 (£70,505). The shirt is now Pelé's most valuable item of memorabilia ever sold at auction.

Historical significance

Pelé wore the shirt during the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden, where he scored twice as a 17-year-old to secure Brazil's first World Cup title. He remains the youngest player to score in a World Cup final, a record he still holds. The match catapulted Pelé into global stardom.

"Today's result is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of one of the greatest footballers of all time," said Brendan Hawkes, Sotheby's head of sports strategy and development. "This shirt is not only a lasting reminder of one of the most important moments in football history, but is principally connected to the very moment that catapulted Pelé into a global sporting icon."

Other items in the auction

The same auction also featured several other notable pieces of football memorabilia. The captain's armband worn by Maradona during the 1986 World Cup, including the 'Hand of God' match against England, sold for $512,000 (£380,000). A shirt worn by Lionel Messi during Barcelona's dramatic 6–1 comeback victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2017 Champions League round of 16 sold for $217,600 (£161,482). David Beckham's shirt from his 50th England cap at the 2002 World Cup sold for $51,200 (£37,996).