2020 Holiday Auction Closing December 12-13
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2020
Pelé, considered by several generations of enthusiasts to be the world’s foremost "footballer," became a national hero in Brazil, and then he helped to jump-start soccer in the U.S. with his play for the New York Cosmos from 1975-77. Pelé is almost universally acclaimed as the most distinguished representative of the popular international sport.
Pelé, born in Brazil on October 23, 1940, first played for Santos, in the top Brazilian league, on September 7, 1956. As a 15-year-old, he scored a goal. The youthful star played one more game on November 15, 1956, scoring again. Those were his only games in 1956.
Beginning on January 12, 1957, Pelé played in 72 games for Santos, scoring 64 goals as a 16-year-old. He was also selected to compete for the Brazilian National team, and played two games against Argentina in 1957 (also scoring 2 goals). These are the highest levels in the Beautiful Game, and 1957 is regarded as Pelé's true rookie year.
During his 15 years with Brazil's national team, Pelé broke hundreds of records. He is considered by FIFA to be the most prolific scorer in soccer history, with 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches across all competitions. He's the most successful striker in Brazil's history, with 77 goals in 92 international matches. Pelé is the only player to have won three World Cups, and he is one of only two players to have scored in four World Cup competitions.
Graded FR 1.5 by PSA. National Soccer Hall of Fame and International Football Hall of Fame enshrinee, in a coveted Rookie Card appearance. This is the only specimen recorded in PSA's census reporting. A truly exceptional collectible, issued in its esteemed subject's Brazilian homeland, this Pelé Rookie Card displays a rich, colorful and vibrant portrait of the 17-year-old soccer prodigy. The delicate card shows evidence of past mounting in an album, as was intended by design. An important and desirable piece, in technically assessed Fair condition.
This outstanding collectible is emerging into a red-hot market for the finest soccer cards. As points of reference on value, sales of better early Pelé cards in the recent past have included a $43,000 example in an online auction, and PSA's listing of auction results cites a $100,000 price. And, in Goldin Auctions' October 2020 Legends sale, a 1958 Alifabolaget #635 Pelé Rookie Card in PSA MINT 9 sold for more than $250,000.