Pele's 1958 World Cup medal heads to England auction, could fetch $670,000

LONDON — A medal won by Brazilian football legend Pele at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden is expected to sell for around $670,000 at an auction in England later this month. The medal is part of a 450-piece World Cup collection valued at approximately $2.7 million. The collection also includes the Brazil jersey Pele wore in the 1958 final, which is expected to fetch more than $6 million in a separate Sotheby's auction in New York running from June 29 to July 16. In that match, a 17-year-old Pele scored two of Brazil's five goals against host nation Sweden, securing Brazil's first of three World Cup titles. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele died in December 2022 at the age of 82 following a diagnosis of colon cancer. He was later known by the nickname "O Rei," or "The King." The England-based sale will also feature the jersey worn by English goalkeeper Gordon Banks during the 1970 World Cup match in Mexico in which he saved a famous shot by Pele, along with memorabilia from the 1966 World Cup. The auction begins with an online stage from June 1 to 21 featuring 2026 World Cup jerseys, followed by the main live sale on June 25 at Budds auction house in Wellingborough, central England.