Published: 09:09, July 17, 2026
Brazil great Pele's 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9m
By Reuters
Brazil's soccer legend Pele's FIFA World Cup 1958 final jersey is displayed at Sotheby’s auction house in New York City, July 1, 2026. (PHOTO / REUTERS)

The shirt worn by Brazil great Pele when he scored twice ​in the 1958 World Cup final ‌has sold for $4.9 million at auction, becoming the most valuable piece of memorabilia linked ​to the football legend, Sotheby's ​said on Thursday.

The number 10 shirt, ⁠worn by the then 17-year-old as ​Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2 in ​Stockholm to win their first world title, attracted 10 bids from more than five bidders, ​the auction house said.

Brazil's soccer legend Pele's FIFA World Cup 1958 final jersey is displayed at Sotheby’s auction house in New York City, July 1, 2026. (PHOTO / REUTERS)

The sale made ​it the second-most expensive football shirt sold at ‌auction, ⁠behind the $9.3 million paid in 2022 for the shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored his "Hand of ​God" goal ​for Argentina ⁠against England at the 1986 World Cup.

Pele, who died ​in 2022 aged 82, scored ​twice ⁠in the 1958 showpiece and remains the youngest player to score in a ⁠World ​Cup final.

The shirt had ​previously sold at auction in 2004 for 70,505 ​pounds ($105,600), according to Sotheby's.