PELÉ'S LEGENDARY NO. 10 WORLD CUP JERSEY SELLS FOR NEARLY $5 MILLION

One of the most iconic pieces of football memorabilia in history has found a new owner. The legendary No. 10 jersey worn by Brazilian football icon Pelé during the 1958 FIFA World Cup final has been sold for $4.9 million, according to auction house Sotheby's.

PHOTO: Agencije

Pelé, who passed away in 2022, was just 17 years old when he produced one of football's greatest performances, scoring twice in Brazil's memorable 5-2 victory over hosts Sweden at Stockholm's Råsunda Stadium. The triumph secured Brazil's first-ever FIFA World Cup title and launched Pelé's extraordinary international career.

Following the historic final, Pelé gifted the handcrafted jersey to his roommate and teammate Didi. The shirt remained in Didi's family for decades before being displayed in a Brazilian museum. It was eventually acquired by a private collector in 2004.

According to Sotheby's, the jersey is now the second most expensive football shirt ever sold at auction. The record is still held by Diego Maradona's famous "Hand of God" jersey, worn during Argentina's 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against England, which sold for $9.3 million in 2022.

Before this landmark sale, the most valuable item from Pelé's memorabilia collection was a 1958 collector's card, which fetched $976,000 at auction last month.

The sale highlights the enduring global legacy of Pelé, whose achievements continue to inspire football fans and collectors around the world. His historic 1958 World Cup jersey remains one of the sport's most treasured symbols, representing the beginning of an era that transformed football forever.