A football shirt worn by legendary Brazil forward Pelé during the very first World Cup final his nation played — and won — has sold for $4.9 million at an auction in the United States.
The Brazilian attacker, known as “The King,” was just 17 years old when he scored twice in his country’s 5-2 triumph over tournament hosts Sweden in 1958.
Worn in blue, the jersey became the second-highest priced football kit ever sold at auction. At Sotheby’s in New York, an anonymous buyer outbid four other bidders to secure the shirt.
The current auction record stands at $9.3 million for a jersey worn by Argentina icon Diego Maradona during the celebrated quarter-final against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Argentina claimed a 2-1 victory, with Maradona scoring both goals, including the notorious “Hand of God” strike in which he used an illegal punch to send the ball into the net.
