Pele's iconic Brazil World Cup shirt sells at auction for 70 times its estimate

Pele's iconic Brazil World Cup shirt sells at auction for 70 times its estimate EXCLUSIVE: The Pele shirt - which he wore at either the 1970 or 1966 tournament, was estimated at £600 to £800, and sold for £42,000 A World Cup shirt which was worn by Pele has sold for 70 times its estimate - and at the same auction a ticket from the 1930 World Cup final sold for a staggering £4,200. Auctioneers were stunned by the level of prices reached. They think the success of the current tournament, where England have reached the round of 32, helped spark the selling spree. The Pele shirt - which he wore at either the 1970 or 1966 tournament, was estimated at £600 to £800, and sold for £42,000. David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia at auctioneers BUDDS said: "Selling a Pele World Cup shirt for 70 times its estimated value was a very special moment. It goes to show just how much of an impact he has had on the game, and that impact endures with fans today. People are prepared to spend big to own a piece of Pele history." And discussing the ticket he said: "£4,200 is a lot to pay for a small piece of paper, but this ticket represents the start of football's greatest story. Imagine being there for the first-ever World Cup Final. “Thankfully, the original owner realised its significance and kept it safe. I wonder what they would make of it selling for thousands of pounds almost a century later." He added: “The World Cup is one of the few events that can make an entire nation stop what it's doing, and that emotional connection doesn't disappear when the final whistle blows. “While a new generation falls in love with the Tournament every four years, older fans love to relive their greatest football memories That's exactly what we saw in yesterday's auction.” The shirts David Beckham wore during the game when he was sent off as England captain sold for £26,000. Beckham became the first player in history to be sent off twice while playing for the Three Lions. He was given a red card while playing against Austria at Old Trafford in 2005. More famously he was sent off in the 1998 World Cup when he controversially kicked out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone. Now the shirt he wore in the first half and the one he was wearing after the break have been sold. Convery said: “David Beckham remains one of the most sought-after names in football memorabilia and these shirts represent a fascinating chapter in his England career, albeit one he’d probably rather forget. “To have both shirts together that were worn during the same international match is extremely unusual, particularly when that match is remembered for such a significant moment in English football history. “From the visible signs of match use to the literal smell of authenticity, they are exactly the kind of items collectors are looking for.” Beckham was sent off on October 8, 2005, during a 2006 World Cup qualifying match between England and Austria at Old Trafford in Manchester. He made history as the first England captain to receive a red card. Both Beckham and England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson expressed frustration, labelling the dismissal "harsh," with even the Austrian coach admitting the decision felt incorrect.