As Spain’s 1–0 victory over Argentina brings the 2026 FIFA World Cup to a close, the tournament’s greatest legend is still making news – more than half a century after he last played in it.

Days before the final, the iconic No. 10 jersey worn by Pelé in the 1958 World Cup final sold for nearly US$4.9 million at Sotheby’s Beautiful Game sale in New York. It became the second-most expensive football jersey ever auctioned, behind Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” jersey from the 1986 World Cup. 

Pelé was only 17 when he wore the jersey in Stockholm, scoring twice as Brazil beat the host nation Sweden 5–2 to claim their first World Cup title. He remains the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final, and the only player in history to have lifted the trophy three times.

Pelé in tears after Brazil wins its first World Cup title in 1958

Lot 1 | Pelé 1958 FIFA World Cup Final Championship Clinching Match Worn Shirt
Provenance (Supplemented by The Value):

• Pele gift to Edvaldo Alves de Santa Rosa ('Dida') 1958 World Cup Teammate
• Gifted by Dida and Family to the Museu dos Esportes (Museum of Sport) Brazil
• Museu dos Esportes deaccessioned via Christie’s Auction (September 21 2004; sold: £70,505)
• Property of a Private Collector

Estimate Upon Request (Expected to fetch in excess of US$6,000,000)
Sold: US$4,880,000

Auction House: Sotheby's New York
Sale: The Beautiful Game
Date: 16 July 2026

In 1958, the World Cup made its first – and so far only – stop in Scandinavia. Sweden topped their group and then went on to defeat the Soviet Union and defending champion West Germany to secure a place in the final. On the other side of the draw, Brazil also advanced as group winner, knocking out Wales and pre‑tournament favourite France.

Pelé missed Brazil’s first two group matches with a knee injury. Once he returned, however, he made an immediate impact, setting a string of World Cup records: Brazil’s youngest player at the finals (against the Soviet Union, at 17 years and 235 days), the youngest World Cup goalscorer (against Wales, at 17 years and 239 days), and the youngest player ever to score a World Cup hat‑trick (against France, at 17 years and 244 days).

On 29 June, the Seleção walked out at Råsunda Stadium to face Sweden in front of more than 49,000 fans. Few in the crowd would have known that Brazil’s now‑famous blue shirts had been made in a hurry, after a kit problem forced the squad into a last‑minute change.

Pelé misses Brazil’s first two group games due to a knee injury

Pelé scores a hat-trick against France in the semi-final (The image has been digitally colorized)

It began with a simple colour clash. Both Sweden's and Brazil's first-choice shirts were yellow and, after Brazil refused to draw lots over who would change, the visitors were left with only a few days to find an alternative.

White was briefly considered but quickly ruled out: for Brazil, it still called to mind the national trauma of the 1950 World Cup, when they lost the decisive match to Uruguay wearing white. In the end, the team staff bought 22 plain blue shirts. Players cut the national crest from their yellow shirts and had it stitched onto the new ones, while the numbers were improvised from yellow equipment bags and fixed by hand.

At the time, squads were usually numbered by position – No. 1 for the goalkeeper and Nos. 9 to 11 for the forwards – and No. 10 had yet to become a shorthand for a team’s playmaker. According to reports, Brazil’s federation failed to submit an official numbering list before the tournament, so FIFA assigned Nos. 1 to 22 more or less at random. The starting goalkeeper appeared in No. 3, a centre‑back ran out in No. 9, and No. 10 happened to land on Pelé.

The shirt has been photomatched by SIA Photo Match

On the day of the final, Brazil lined up in a 4‑2‑4 against a Sweden side set up in a 3‑4‑2‑1. The hosts struck first, taking the lead inside four minutes, but Brazil responded with two goals and headed down the tunnel 2–1 up at half-time.

Pelé took over after the interval. In the 55th minute, he received a cross in the box with his back to goal, brought it down on his chest, flicked the ball over a defender and finished with a volley. In the 90th minute, he met another cross, rising between two Swedish defenders to send a looping header over the goalkeeper.

Brazil eventually ran out 5–2 winners and lifted the World Cup for the first time. The victory not only announced Pelé's arrival as the game's new king, but also helped cement the No. 10 shirt's special status in football. He would go on to help Brazil win the World Cup again in 1962 and 1970, sealing the country’s reputation as the beautiful game’s spiritual home. 

In the 55th minute, Pelé collected a cross in the box with his back to goal, brought it down on his chest, flicked the ball over a defender, and finished with a volley

In the 90th minute, Pelé sent a looping header over the goalkeeper

Pelé helped Brazil lift its first World Cup

After the final, Pelé gave the shirt to his roommate and team‑mate Dida (Edvaldo Alves de Santa Rosa). In 1993, Dida passed it on to the Museu dos Esportes Edvaldo Alves de Santa Rosa, a Brazilian sports museum set up by a journalist in his honour.

In 2004, the museum consigned the jersey to Christie’s London, where it sold for £70,505 (around US$128,000). Its sale at Sotheby's New York for nearly US$4.9 million with fees included now ranks it as the second-most expensive football jersey ever auctioned. 

The Maradona "Hand of God" jersey, which holds the record for a football jersey, sold for £7.1 million (US$9.3 million) at Sotheby's London in 2022, while the record for any sports memorabilia and game‑worn jersey belongs to Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series "Called Shot" jersey, which sold for a whopping US$24.1 million at Heritage Auctions in 2024.

Diego Maradona 1986 World Cup “The Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” Match Worn Shirt | Sold: £7,140,000 (US$9.3 million), Sotheby's London, 2022 (Auction record for a football jersey)

Babe Ruth 1932 World Series “Called Shot” Game Worn Jersey | Sold: US$24,120,000, Heritage Auctions, 2024 (Auction record for a sports memorabilia and for a sports jersey)