Brazil legend Pele's 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9 million

Pelé’s historic 1958 World Cup final shirt has been sold for $4.9 million, Sotheby’s announced, making it the most valuable item of memorabilia linked to the Brazilian legend. The number 10 jersey was worn by Pelé as a teenager when he scored twice in Brazil’s 5‑2 victory over hosts Sweden in Stockholm, securing the nation’s first world title. The auction attracted 10 bids from more than five interested buyers, ultimately placing the shirt as the second‑most expensive football jersey ever sold, behind Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt, which fetched $9.3 million in 2022.

Pelé, who died in 2022 at age 82, remains the youngest player to score in a World Cup final. The shirt had previously been sold in 2004 for £70,505, roughly $105,600 at the time, highlighting its extraordinary rise in value. The sale reinforces Pelé’s enduring legacy as one of football’s most celebrated figures.