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.

Featured here is a 1962 Pelé Brazil match worn jersey, a scarce single-season style that dates to his prime and perhaps his greatest overall year as a footballer. The yellow long-sleeved cotton shirt with 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 blue. Tagged by manufacturer Athleta within the inner collar, no size is listed but it measures to his specifications according to MEARS authentication.

The open green collar is joined by a yellow V-neck subsection (as well as a unique green string loop under the left collar), making it stand out as a Brazil National Team style worn only during a brief window in 1962. And what a glorious year it was for Pelé and Seleção as they went undefeated in 15 games (13-0-2) with two draws including 5-0-1 in the World Cup for their second straight Jules Rimet Trophy. The shirt displays “heavy” wear as described by MEARS, with evenly distributed sweat staining and soiling as well as fraying on the crest and reverse numbers. The football icon has signed “Edson = Pelé” in faded black pen on the upper torso. This is just the second ’62 Pelé Brazil match shirt we’ve auctioned, the first having sold for $25,200 in July 2024.

Provenance: Gifted by Pelé to fellow Brazilian football star Paulo Cézar Lima, better known as Caju, who played with Pelé on Brazil's triumphant 1970 World Cup squad. The attacking midfielder was a prominent member of the Brazil National Team for over a decade (1967-77), scoring 10 goals in 57 caps. Caju has signed a letter in Portuguese for the jersey dating it to 1962.

Authentication: Letter of Opinion from MEARS verifying the shirt's specs as being consistent with Brazil jerseys from the period and sized to fit Pelé. Autograph certified with a full LOA from PSA/DNA.