FIFA WORLD CUP WINNER’S MEDAL, c.2007

1962 FIFA World Cup winner’s medal awarded retrospectively to Pelé

Following Brazil’s success in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, in which a then 17-year-old Pelé arrived on the world stage and became the youngest player to participate in, score in, and win a World Cup final, the Seleção entered the 1962 tournament as heavy favourites. Pelé was rated as the best player in the world and had the previous year been declared an ‘official national treasure’ by President Jânio Quadros to prevent him being transferred out of the country. Brazil had won 14 and drawn one of their previous 15 games and, while European champions the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia had designs on global gold, few foresaw them stopping Pelé, Garrincha et al.

Pelé started the tournament very well, providing an assist and scoring a goal in the 73rd minute of Brazil's opening match against Mexico at the Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar, Chile. However, in the second match of the tournament, he suffered an injury against Czechoslovakia which would ultimately end his participation. In spite of the absence of their star player in the knockout stages, Brazil would go on to win the 1962 FIFA World Cup, defending their 1958 World Cup title and becoming only the second nation to win back-to-back championships.

‘The 1962 World Cup was a hard tournament for Brazil. Fortunately we became champions and I won this medal. But the competition was very difficult because the World Cup was in Chile, and I, unfortunately, injured myself there. I was incredibly sad because I hadn’t recovered and couldn’t play the final World Cup match. I was very worried and afraid that Brazil wouldn’t win the tournament. Fortunately, Brazil won, and I conquered my second World Cup medal. But all I could do was cheer and suffer from the outside because I couldn’t play the final match. It was really thrilling to win my second medal for the Jules Rimet’ (Julien’s Auctions catalogue, 2016).

'Even though I didn't play I was always involved, I took part in all the team talks and made my voice heard. I tried to encourage the team as they prepared to win the World Cup for a second time. It wasn't easy watching it all from the stands, watching from a seat like just any other spectator, while my team-mates were out there fighting for the title that was mine too' (Pelé: The Autobiography, p.129).

According to FIFA regulations at the time, only players who appeared in the final were eligible for a medal, but regulations were changed in 1978 to award medals to all members of the squad. In 2007, FIFA announced they would right this historic wrong by awarding medals to all 122 players who were members of winning squads between 1930 and 1974 but did not play in the final, including other giants of the game such as Jimmy Greaves who missed out on a medal for England’s 1966 triumph. Upon finally receiving his award, Pelé became the only player in FIFA World Cup history to hold three winning medals, surpassing Brazilian legends such as Cafu, Garrincha, and Ronaldo, each with two, and moving well ahead of other icons such as Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Franz Beckenbauer and Bobby Moore.

35 x 22mm, 20 grams. The obverse with design of the winged figure of Victory and inscribed ‘F.I.F.A.’, the reverse with central laurel wreath and inscribed ‘CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL DE FUTBOL COPA JULES RIMET CHILE 1962’, stamped PEKA and 0.750, with suspension ring (lightly tarnished). Provenance: Pelé (1940-2022; his sale, Julien’s Auctions, June 7-9, 2016, lot 788) – National Football Museum, Manchester (on loan from the current owner since July 2016).

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Pelé’s Passport (1960-1962)

A Federative Republic of Brazil passport (N. 301753) issued to Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, on February 9, 1960 and valid until February 8, 1962 (160 x 152mm). Printed text in Portuguese and French, first four leaves with manuscript in blue ink and stamped in black ink with the word ‘cancelado’ (cancelled), p.2 with Pelé’s date of birth recorded as 21 October 1940, p.3 with pasted-in black and white photograph of Pelé and below with his signature in dark blue ink, p.7 with Pelé’s thumbprint in black ink, the remaining 25pp. with various entry and exit stamps and visas, both pasted-in and stamped in ink. Original green cloth covers, the front cover with the standard title, emblem and unique issue number stamped in gilt (spine and covers slightly rubbed). Provenance: Pelé (1940-2022; his sale, Julien’s Auctions, June 7-9, 2016, lot 1046) – National Football Museum, Manchester (on loan from the current owner since July 2016).