Nov 6, 2024 - Nov 23, 2024
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the football legend known only as Pelé, signed his first professional contract in 1956 at the age of 15 with prestigious Brazilian club, Santos FC. The following year, he made his first appearance with the Brazil National Team at age 16. During his prolific international career, Pelé won three FIFA World Cup titles (1958, 1962 and 1970) – the only player ever to do so for his country. He retired as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals in 91 caps.
Presented here is the second-earliest Pelé Brazil match worn jersey we’ve had the pleasure of auctioning. It dates to 1958-59 when the brilliant young talent was just getting his feet wet with the Senior National Team. The yellow short-sleeved cotton shirt with on open green collar and ribbed green sleeve-ends has an early CBD (Confederação Brasileira de Desportos or Brazil Sports Confederation) crest embroidered on the left chest, with his famous number “10” on the back in green. Tagged by Rio-based manufacturer Ceppo, the label reads “Superball” and indicates a size “REG” within the inner collar. 1958 was Pelé’s first full year with Seleção as they won the proud football nation’s first World Cup title. The exact match in which this shirt was worn is unknown, but it displays ample wear with lightly pilled fabric and heavily frayed back numbers. It appears to have been laundered before the soccer icon autographed the front “Edson = Pelé” in 8.5/10 black ink.
Provenance: Gifted by Pelé to fellow Brazilian footballer José Guilherme Baldocchi, a center back who played with Pelé on Brazil's triumphant 1970 World Cup squad.
Authentication: LOA from MEARS verifying the shirt's specs as being consistent with Brazil jerseys from the period and sized to fit Pelé. Additional LOA from PSA/DNA for the autograph.
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