Following 10 bids from 5 participants in New York, USA, Pele's jersey was sold to an anonymous buyer, making it the second most expensive jersey ever auctioned globally. The year 1958 marked Brazil's first World Cup victory.

At that time, Pele was only 17 years old. He scored two goals in Brazil's 5-2 victory over host Sweden in the final match. Earlier in the tournament, Brazil also defeated the France national team by the same score of 5-2 in the semifinal.

Pele later gifted the blue jersey he wore in the 1958 final to his teammate and friend Dida. Dida's family kept the jersey for decades before it was transferred to a museum. It was first auctioned in 2004, though the price at that time was not disclosed.

Pele's jersey worn in the 1958 World Cup final. *Photo: Sotheby's*

Born in Brazil, Pele grew up in poverty, selling goods on the streets to help his family make ends meet. He rose to prominence at 15 when he began his professional career with Santos.

Pele set a record with 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches for Santos (1956-1974), the Brazil national team, and New York Cosmos (1975-1977). Beyond his records, he is remembered for revolutionizing the sport. As the first global football superstar, Pele played a key role in transforming football into the world's most popular sport, leveraging his extraordinary abilities despite being only 1,7 meters tall. He passed away in 2022 after receiving treatment for colon cancer, kidney failure, and heart issues.

Currently, the record for jersey price belongs to the one Diego Maradona wore in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against the England national team in Mexico. That jersey sold for 9,3 million USD. In that match, Argentina defeated England 2-1, featuring the famous goal Maradona called "The Hand of God".

Ha Thu (according to AFP)