SAO PAULO (AP) — As soccer fans prepare for the World Cup, a jersey worn by one of the sport's most iconic players is heading to auction.
The late Pelé’s match-worn, number 10 shirt from the 1958 World Cup final will be up for an online auction between June 29 and July 16, Sotheby's said Tuesday.
“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 jersey is the one Pelé wore in his first World Cup final. Edson Arantes do Nascimento — aka Pelé — was 17 years old when he scored twice in Brazil’s 5-2 win against hosts Sweden at the Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm. He remains the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final.
Pelé, who died at age 82 in December 2022 of colon cancer, gifted the handmade shirt after the final 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 owner, who remains anonymous, in 2004.
The Brazilian legend’s first goal in that final was one of the World Cup’s best ever, according to fans and players alike. He controlled the ball with his chest, flicked it over a Swedish defender, and scored. The second came near the end of the match with a header.
Pelé went on to win his third World Cup title in 1970 in Mexico, one of the three hosts of the tournament with the United States and Canada. The same Azteca Stadium that saw him as a champion back then will host the opening game of this year's World Cup, with Mexico taking on South Africa.
The auction period also includes a public exhibition starting July 1 at Sotheby’s Breuer building in New York.
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Amy Sousa, a women's rights activist and psychologist, Keith Lierre, founder of Women's Libe… Read moreTalk at RWC Library - The transgender assault on Women and Girls
Join the San Mateo Daily Journal in Fiesta Hall at the Community Expo at the San Mateo County Fair! Read moreSan Mateo Community Expo at the Fair
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.