Uruguay and Club Nacional goalkeeper Andres Mazali was presented with this cigarette case and match safe in recognition of his stellar performance with the Uruguay Men’s National Soccer Team at the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics. La Celeste were the first non-European team to compete in Olympic soccer, then the most important tournament on the global scene, and their novel, possession-based style of play confounded and humbled their Old-World opponents. Uruguay tore through Yugoslavia, the United States, France, and the Netherlands before dispatching Switzerland 3-0 in the tournament final. Four years later, with Mazali still manning the goal, Uruguay won the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics gold medal to complete an unprecedented Olympic double.

This offered cigarette case 3 x 3.5 inches and flips open with the press of a button. Etched on the inside of the case is “VIII^A Olympiada / Los Uruguayos en Paris a los / Campeones mundiales de foot-ball” and “Andres Mazali / Paris 1924”. Please note that numerous scratches are present over “Mazali” and “Paris 1924”. The match safe in this lot measures 1.25 x 1.75 inches and is in good condition. This lot comes in the original presentation box, however only the lower half of the box is present. This item comes with a LOA confirming it is part of the Rony Almeida Soccer Collection.

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