Pele’s 1958 World Cup winners’ medal set to fetch £500,000

A medal won by Brazilian football legend Pelé during his teenage years at the 1958 World Cup is poised to command a significant price at auction. Sporting memorabilia specialists BUDDS in England are set to auction the medal, with an estimated sale price of £500,000 (approximately $670,000).

This historic medal is among a substantial collection of 450 World Cup-related items that BUDDS anticipates will collectively fetch around £2 million. The auction is scheduled to include a live sale on June 25 in Wellingborough, central England, following an online auction from June 1 to 21. The collection features items from various World Cup tournaments, highlighting significant moments in football history.

Adding to the allure for collectors, a Brazil shirt worn by Pelé in the 1958 final against host nation Sweden is slated for a separate auction at Sotheby's in New York. This iconic jersey is estimated to sell for more than $6 million. The 1958 victory marked the first of Brazil's record five World Cup titles, with Pelé, then just 17, scoring two goals in the final match.

Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, passed away in December 2022 at the age of 82. His legacy continues to resonate through such valuable memorabilia. The BUDDS auction also includes other notable items, such as the shirt worn by England goalkeeper Gordon Banks during his famous save from Pelé in the 1970 World Cup, as well as memorabilia from England's 1966 World Cup win, including Banks' winner's medal and Alan Ball's shirt from that final.

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This is the largest collection of World Cup memorabilia ever offered at auction, and it is difficult to imagine many sales that could rival it in terms of historical significance.