Up for grabs at the iconic Julien’s Auctions is a collection of items belonging to Pele, many people’s choice as the greatest-ever footballer.
Even better, the California-based Julien’s are having the auction in London!
Taking place on June 7, 8 and 9, it is sure to attract massive offers from wealthy fans and other footballers, who are never short of money to burn.
One of the real stand-outs, for us, is the ball that the brilliant Brazilian scored his 1,000th goal with, surely one of the most sought-after football items ever.
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Pele would play professionally in Brazil for two decades, winning three World Cups in the process.
Later in his career, a move to the USA attracted headlines in every corner of the globe, as he joined the New York Cosmos.
Always an incredibly-modest man, and with a deep love of Britain and our football stars, Pele grew up in poverty, but still managed to develop his talent for soccer.
He did so, it is said, by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags around the streets of Bauru.
He also, to his great credit, never earned himself bad publicity by poor behaviour, something a certain Mr Maradona of Argentina and others couldn’t claim.
He won three World Cups with some of the greatest Brazil sides ever, and that hat-trick meant they got to keep the original trophy, known as the Jules Rimet.
Voted FIFA Player of the Century in 1999, he became a superstar in the 1958 World Cup Finals in Sweden, just a teenager but playing a style of football we had never dreamed possible.
Defenders would kick lumps out of him, but nothing could stop him, and they nicknamed him The Black Pearl, or simply The King.
He would go on to have three sons and three daughters, and is 75 now, happily retired, but still a great ambassador for good causes and the Beautiful Game.
The fact he is slight in stature and just 5ft 8in makes his feats at the pinnacle of sport even more astonishing.
So what can you spend your money on at the auction to beat them all this summer?
Well, Julien’s estimate each of his three World Cup medals, from ’58, ’62 and 1970 — when they put out holders England — could rake in about £140,000 apiece.
You’d better have deep pockets!
The ring he was given for winning the NASL Championship with Cosmos could attract offers of £28,000, while the team’s green shirt is estimated at approximately £7,000.
That special football could set you back £42,000, but your eyes may be diverted by over 1,000 other items, including the boots Pele wore in the movie Escape To Victory, the torch he carried at the 2004 Olympics and his World Champion sash.
Come to think of it, maybe it’s only Becks and Rooney who can afford this stuff…
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