Iconic global football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, aka Pele, is set to auction his soccer memorabilia acquired throughout his illustrious football career.
While insisting “everyone needs money,” Pele took a lingering look at a lifetime of medals, trinkets and memorabilia that auctioneers hope will generate around $7 million.
Everything from a replica of the World Cup — a 1970 gift from FIFA after winning the soccer showpiece for a third time — to jerseys, boots and awards are on sale.
According to the Associated Press, Pele was at an art gallery on The Mall leading up to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday whipping up interest in the three-day auction next week.
From luxury watches to fast-food chains, the Brazil great has made the most of his illustrious playing career by promoting companies who want to latch onto the most iconic name from 20th century football.
At the age of 75, Pele is willing to see his cherished items amassed over decades dispersed around the globe — from museums to private collections.
“Everybody needs money, everybody has to have some money to live. Fortunately in this case, it doesn’t need to be for my future, for my life,” Pele told The Associated Press.
“I would (have) made a lot of money to be a coach because I had a lot of proposals. I didn’t want to be a coach.”
Some of the proceeds will go to a Brazilian hospital but Pele declined to give the percentage.
“This is much more important than (the items) staying in my house,” Pele said of the auction.
Pele achieved enough in his playing career.
The centerpiece of the auction is a replica of the Jules Rimet Trophy previously handed to World Cup winning teams. Auctioneers hope it will raise up to 1 million pounds ($1.5 million) next week.
“The trophy was like my son, like my family,” Pele said.
Pure Pele Facts
In 1999, he was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). The same year, France Football asked their former Ballon d’Or winners to choose the Football Player of the Century; they selected Pelé. In 1999, Pelé was elected Athlete of the Century by the
1970: WORLD CUP MEXICO. PELE SHOOTS DURING BRAZILS MATCH AGAINST CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive
IOC, and Time named him in their list of 100 most influential people of the 20th century. In 2013 he received the FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur in recognition of his career and achievements as a global icon of football.
According to the IFFHS, Pelé is the most successful league goal scorer in the world, with 541 league goals. In total Pelé scored 1281 goals in 1363 games, including unofficial friendlies and tour games, for which he was listed in the Guinness World Records for most career goals scored in football.
Amazingly, at the height of his career, Pelé’s “electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals” made him a star around the world. His team Santos toured internationally in order to take full advantage of his popularity. In 1967, the two factions involved in the Nigerian Civil War agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play an exhibition game in Lagos.
