"Pele is the greatest player of all time, " said Franz Beckenbauer, the captain of West Germany's 1974 World Cup champions about the famed Brazilian superstar. Displayed is a 1970 Pele Brazil National Team game worn pullover jersey signed by Pele, considered by many to be football's (soccer's) best ever. Born as Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele was his football name. It is a custom in Pele's native Brazil for great players to use a special football name, like a stage name for actors. Pele started professional play at age 15, for the Santos team in Brazil. He made his World Cup debut at age 16 in 1958, and he was a key part of three World Cup champions for Brazil ('58, '62, & '70). Pele in his younger years was usually a striker, as a center forward. Later in his career, he often played as a withdrawn forward or an attacking midfielder and became more of a playmaker, while still remaining as a scorer. Pele smoothly used either foot. He disguised his intention to pass, dribble or shoot, and thus he was nearly impossible to predict. Indeed, the 1974 Brazilian National Team captain, Carlos Alberto, said, "His great secret was improvisation." In his professional career, including "friendlies" (1957-77), Pele scored 77 goals in 92 games for the Brazil National Team, 643 goals in 659 games for his club team - Santos, and 37 goals in 64 games for his final team, the New York Cosmos (1975-77).

The offered signed jersey is yellow with green trim. It has a manufacturer's neck tag that reads, in part, "ATHLETA" and "100% ALGODAO" (Portuguese for "100% cotton"). On the left chest is a "CBD" patch, and CBD is an acronym meaning Confederacoa Brasileira de Desportos, a Portuguese term meaning "Brazil Sports Confederation." The patch has "CBD" on a white background on a "shield" in Brazil's national colors of blue, green, and yellow. On back is Pele's famous number "10," measuring 10.25" in height, in green, tackle twill sewn-on numerals. Pele signed the jersey on the high mid-chest area. The jersey has a chest measurement of 18" and a torso measurement of 29". His signature was scripted with a fine tip black marker. The neat signature is big and bold, measuring approx. 1.75x2.5". The jersey shows heavy use, worn in friendly play, and it is in EXCELLENT condition. The jersey comes with a MEARS LOA, CERT. #318143, and has a MEARS Best Grade of A10. The signed jersey also comes with a PSA/DNA LOA for the signature.

Estimated domestic USA shipping cost only. Does not include handling or insurance: $29.48 Please feel free to contact us for a more accurate shipping cost.