Pelé's 1958 jersey becomes second most expensive football shirt behind Maradona

Pelé’s historic World Cup 1958 final jersey fetched millions at a New York auction this week setting a massive new record for sports memorabilia.

The late Brazilian legend Pelé continues to make history long after his playing days. His iconic number 10 shirt, worn during the 1958 World Cup final, was sold for a jaw dropping $4.9 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York City.

At just 17 year old, the teenage prodigy wore this exact jersey while inspiring Brazil to a thumping 5-2 victory over hosts Sweden, famously becoming the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final, a record that still stands unbroken today.

Chasing Maradona's shadow

According to official statements from the auction house Sotheby's, this historic sale cements Pelé's jersey as the second most expensive football shirt ever sold.

It sits just behind the legendary shirt worn by the late Argentinian maestro Diego Maradona during the infamous World Cup 1986 quarter final against England. Maradona's shirt, heavily tied to the iconic "Hand of God" goal, shattered all sports memorabilia records when it was sold for a staggering $9.3 million back in 2022.

The exploding sports memorabilia market

To put this $4.9 million evaluation into perspective, sports apparel has officially shifted from simple nostalgic keepsakes into high yield alternative assets.

According to market data from ESPN, elite match worn shirts have skyrocketed in value over the past decade. For years, the market was heavily dominated by American sports legends like Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth.

However, the global appeal of football has completely closed the gap. Pelé’s 1958 shirt represents the birth of a global superpower as that tournament was the exact moment Brazil claimed its first ever star, permanently changing the landscape of international football.

A trailblazer's legacy

This is not the first time Pelé’s match-worn gear has sparked a fierce bidding war. According to sports archival data from BBC Sport, his World Cup 1970 final shirt, the one he wore while capturing his third global title against Italy, was sold at an auction in London back in 2002 for over $220,000.

At the time, that price was considered astronomical and set a Guinness World Record. Seeing his rookie-era 1958 shirt clear almost five million dollars decades later showcases the eternal reverence fans and collectors hold for O Rei.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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