Pele's 1958 FIFA World Cup medal hits the auction block this month in England. Experts expect it to fetch more than N900 million.
The Brazilian legend was just 17 when he won the medal in Sweden. He scored twice in Brazil's commanding 5-2 victory over the host nation in the final.
Sporting memorabilia specialists BUDDS are orchestrating the sale in Wellingborough on June 25. The medal represents one of 450 World Cup-related items going under the hammer.
David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia at BUDDS, called it historic. "This is the largest collection of World Cup memorabilia ever offered at auction," he noted.
The entire collection is projected to generate around £2 million. Pele's medal alone accounts for a substantial portion of that total.
Young Pele etched his name into football folklore with that 1958 performance. He remains the youngest player to ever score in a World Cup final.
England's goalkeeper Gordon Banks dominates another section of the collection. His shirt from the legendary 1970 save against Pele will be auctioned alongside his 1966 winners' medal.
Alan Ball's jersey from England's triumphant 1966 campaign is also featured. The sale celebrates some of football's most defining moments across multiple decades.
Separately, Sotheby's in New York is handling a different Pele treasure. A Brazil shirt worn during the 1958 World Cup final could exceed $6 million when it goes to auction from June 29 to July 16.
An online auction runs concurrently from June 1 through June 21. It features shirts from nations preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Collectors worldwide continue showing fervent interest in Pele memorabilia. His legacy shows no signs of fading nearly seven decades after his emergence on the global stage.
