According to L'Equipe, Sotheby's auction house reported that Pelé's jersey worn during his first World Cup victory in 1958 sold for $4.9 million (approximately €4.3 million) at auction in New York.
In 1958, 17-year-old Pelé scored two goals in Brazil's 5-2 victory over host Sweden in the final; he had also scored in the semi-final 5-2 win over France, when the player who would later be known as "The King" won his first World Cup title.
After that final, Pelé gave his jersey to his teammate and friend Didi, who started the match as an attacking midfielder. The jersey remained with Didi's family for decades before entering a museum and being auctioned for the first time in 2004; the price was not disclosed.
Sotheby's stated that the jersey sold to an undisclosed buyer after 10 rounds of bidding from five bidders, making it the second most expensive jersey in the world. The record remains held by Maradona's jersey worn on June 22, 1986, in Mexico City against England, when Argentina won 2-1. Maradona led his team to victory with two legendary goals, one of which was ruled valid by the referee.
Pelé passed away in December 2022.
