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1970-1971 Pele Brazil Signed Game Worn Jersey Inscribed and Gifted to Director of "Pelé: The Master and His Method" Documentary (MEARS & PSA)
"Pele is the greatest player of all time," proclaimed Germany's superstar, Franz Beckenbauer. Displayed is a 1970-71 Pele game worn Brazilian National Team jersey signed and inscribed by the incredible "O Rei" (The King). Pele, as is customary in Brazil, played under his nickname. Born as Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele often could not afford a soccer ball, so instead he used newspaper pages rolled into a sock and tied with string. Pele played professionally with Brazil's Santos at age 15, and he played on the Brazil National Team at age 16. In 1958, he was on Brazil's World Cup team at the age of 17 years and 249 days, the youngest player to ever appear in a World Cup game. Brazil won the '70 World Cup, and Pele was voted the "Best Young Player of the Tournament." In the 1962 World Cup, Pele only played in Brazil's first game because of injury. Brazil went on to win the team's second consecutive World Cup. In the 1966 World Cup, Pele was injured by vicious fouls in games against Bulgaria and Portugal, and Brazil was eliminated after only three games. In the 1970 World Cup, Pele scored four goals as Brazil again won the World Cup, and he remains the only player to have ever been on three World Cup winning teams. Pele played on Santos until 1975, and then he helped to popularize soccer in the United States when he played for the New York Cosmos from 1975-77. Overall, Pele scored 77 goals in 92 games for the Brazilian National Team and 643 goals in 659 games for Santos. Not just a scorer, he was a magician in dribbling the ball, a precision passer, and a superb header. Great Brazilian midfielder Carlos Alberto, said, "His [Pele's] greatest secret was improvisation..." In 1961 Brazil declared Pele an "official national treasure" so that he could not join a club team in any other country. Pele's allure was so powerful that in 1969 a 48-hour ceasefire was arranged during the Nigerian Civil War so that Nigerians could see Pele play in a game. Pele is the recipient of myriad honors, and he was named by FIFA as "The Player of the Century" in 2000. The cotton knit jersey, yellow with green trim, has an "Athleta" manufacturer's tag in the collar. Under the manufacturer's tag is another tag that reads, "100% ALGODAO COR FIRME DURABILIDARE GARANTIDA" [translated from Portuguese to English as "100% COTTON COLOR FIRM DURABILITY GUARANTEED"] There is no size listed, but the chest measurement is "19" and the torso measurement is 28". On the front left chest is the Brazil National Team crest with three green stars above it. The mid-chest has Pele's autograph and his Portuguese inscription, written in black ink from a marker. Pele has inscribed: "Para o "Sal Lanza" elo seu amigo Edson=Pele Brazil 14-8-72." The aforementioned writing and inscription translate to English as "To 'Sal Lanza' from your friend Edson=Pele Brazil 8-14-72." Sal Lanza was the director of the Pele documentary film entitled: <em>Pele: The</em> <em>Master and His Method</em>. The jersey was gifted by Pele to Lanza, and later the film director gifted the jersey to the consignor, a family friend of Lanza. The back has "10" in green sewn-on single tackle twill numerals. The jersey comes with a MEARS Letter of Opinion that grades the jersey as "Authentic." The jersey also comes with a PSA LOA for the inscription and signature. Part of the inscription and the signature have been partially blurred from apparent water damage, but the inscription and signature are clearly written and legible. The jersey shows heavy use, and some very faint lines, apparently from cleaning or water damage, run horizontally throughout the garment. As the great Dutch player Johan Cruyff said, "Pele was the footballer who surpasses the boundaries of logic." Pele passed away shortly after the 2022 World Cup. He was beloved throughout the world. A game worn Pele Brazil National Team signed and inscribed jersey makes a magnificent prize for any collector.
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