Born into extreme poverty, Brazilian football legend Pelé was able to turn his life around through his sensational ability on the pitch from a very young age. He signed his first professional soccer contract in 1956 at the age of 15 with famed Brazilian club, Santos F.C. The following year, at age 16, he would join the Brazil National Team. During his prolific international career, Pelé won three FIFA World Cup titles (1958, 1962 and 1970), the only player ever to do so. He is the all-time leading scorer for Brazil with 77 career goals in 91 caps and remains the G.O.A.T. among most soccer pundits.

As far as his professional career, Pelé stayed loyal to his homeland and the club that signed him as a teenager, playing for Santos until 1974 and finishing with an astonishing 618 goals in 636 games. Os Santásticos ("The Santastics") are still regarded as one of, if not, the greatest club teams of all time, winning a mind-blowing 24 titles during the 1960's including five consecutive Brasileirões (Brazilian professional league titles).

Presented here is a Pelé match-worn Santos FC jersey from the early-to-mid 1960s as he was just entering his prime for both club and country. The white open-collar shirt made of knit cotton has ribbed sleeve-ends and is tagged behind the collar by both Ceppo and Moura Esportes of São Paulo. The jersey exhibits heavy wear with significant spot soiling/staining from a combination of age, storage, and on-field use. The vintage “S.F.C.” team crest patch (with a unique, rarely seen soccer ball symbol) is sewn on the left chest in black, which has now faded to gray. The famous number “10” immortalized by Pelé is sewn on the back in the same faded black tone. Decades later, Pelé added his autograph under his number in bold black marker. An incredible piece of soccer/football/fútbol/futebol history. One of the earliest Santos jerseys in the hobby. Comes with full LOAs from MEARS (authenticating specs and usage) and Beckett for the signature.