Brazil Pele Captain & Football Legend T-Shirt With Colour Print

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That Pelé's shirt from the 1970 World Cup has great sentimental value is indisputable. But how much would a private collector be willing to pay for it?

In 2014 the Cosmos retired the number 9 shirt in honour of Chinaglia’s contribution to the club. In 2000 Chinaglia was also named the greatest player in Lazio’s history. For fans and collectors alike, this kit was a milestone in Brazil and in world history. In spite of its beauty, its design did not influence as much as the good game of Pelé and ten other geniuses who accompanied him in that edition of the World Cup. Each World Cup has its own star, and that edition could not be other than Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Better known as Pele, the young Brazilian led not only the best Brazil of all time, but also the most lethal team in living memory.

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It was a hammer blow to Brazil. Pele's power went beyond what he was capable of on a football field. He was a unifying force for a vast and multi-cultural country with large impoverished areas, from which he himself had emerged. He was a symbol of hope. England were the benchmark at Mexico 1970, the current holders that many felt had only grown stronger in the four years since their maiden World Cup triumph. For Brazil this was a 'final before the final'. For Pele, it was also an emotional hurdle to clear.

It is a work of art. Perfection. A goal showcasing all that this Brazil stands for - teamwork, skill, improvisation, precision and planning. Zagallo had identified the Italian left as an area to exploit, but even he could not have imagined they would do so with such beautiful ruthlessness.The opening game was a ferocious rebuttal to all those who had written him off, including Czech coach Jozef Marko who's side took an early lead but was then left to rue describing the forward as a "spent force". He was popular in Mexico. One previous visit to Guadalajara with Brazil had prompted nearly the whole town to close, with posters placed on street corners stating: "No work today, we're off to see Pele!" But the country was politically volatile in the summer of 1970. The arrest of a group of Cuban-trained guerrillas by police led to a tip-off of a potential plot to kidnap Brazil's star before the World Cup. One of the best defenders of the time, Tarcisio Burgnich, would explain about Pelé: "We jumped together, but when I was on earth, he was still in the air. I had thought to encourage myself: Pelé is flesh and blood, like me. But I was wrong." Christie's expert appraisers estimated its value to be around 30,000 pounds, at most 50,000 at times. But they never imagined it would exceed 150,000. Quite a record for this auction house and for the T-shirt buying and selling sector.

In a way, part of his magic, part of his natural talent has been imprinted on the fabric of Pelé's 1970 World Cup jersey . It was not in vain that she was dressed up as the Best Footballer of the 20th Century by FIFA and the Best Sportsman of the 20th Century by the International Olympic Committee. Surging with a confidence that comes from total control over one's game, he would admit afterwards that it was pre-planned - devised after spotting that European goalkeepers had a tendency to wander from their line. His only regret was that he had not saved it for a more illustrious opponent, one of which was just around the corner. When Brazil scored their winning goal, we saw another vital aspect of Pele's game - humility," continued Styles. "It was best expressed in his understanding of the needs of the team. Pele cut out two England defenders with the simple pass that played in Jairzinho. That was pure Pele.

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England's captain Bobby Moore, the man that had lifted the Jules Rimet trophy four years earlier, paid Pele the ultimate compliment at full-time, swapping shirts with him, prompting their now iconic topless embrace. Pele and Bobby Moore embrace after Brazil v England at Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara Pelé's shirt at the 1970 World Cup was the centre of attention, as the beautiful jogo of its bearer deserved the world title, not forgetting Jairzinho, Marco Antônio, Gérson, Edu, Zé Maria and other phenomena of the Canarinha . Even without Pelé in the equation, historians agree that the 1970 World Cup was the best World Cup in living memory.