Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Pele to auction 229 sports memorabilia to aid Brazil’s COVID-19 fight

One of the items expected to fetch a high price is a gold-plated bronze cast of Pele’s foot made by celebrity sculptor Dante Mortet.

• August 23, 2021
Pele
Pele

A Brazil jersey owned by Pele; an All Blacks shirt signed by Dan Carter; a New York Yankees photo autographed by Derek Jeter; David Beckham’s AC Milan shirt, plus others from Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe, are among 229 items that will be up for sale next month at an auction.

It was organised by Pele for the foundation he created in 2018 to help underprivileged children.

The Brazilian is the only player to claim three World Cup winner’s medals and a man often called the greatest footballer of all time.

He said all monies raised would help Brazil’s fight against and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

So far, 575,000 people have died in Brazil from Covid-19, the second-highest death toll in the world after the U.S.

“Pele is such a legend, he’s an icon and other sports stars look up to Pele,” Martin Nolan, Executive Director and CFO of Beverly Hills-based Julien’s Auctions, told Reuters.

“Because he was at home in his bubble, he had the time to focus on this project.”

Pele has provided some of his items for the September 22 auction but he has also called in favours from friends in the sport and entertainment worlds.

There are Brazil, Santos and New York Cosmos jerseys and photos autographed by the 80-year-old Pele, and others signed by ex-Brazil teammates such as Rivellino, Jairzinho and Clodoaldo.

Mario Zagallo, the coach of the revered 1970 Brazil World Cup-winning side, who turned 90 earlier this month, also contributed as did Neymar, Roberto Baggio and Roger Milla.

World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer signed several photographs from his New York Cosmos and West Germany days, and there is a match ball from the 2015 Champions League final.

Shirts and equipment used in basketball, American football, field hockey and water polo are also up for grabs.

One of the items expected to fetch a high price is a gold-plated bronze cast of Pele’s foot made by celebrity sculptor Dante Mortet.

Outside football, Justin Timberlake, Maria Sharapova, Mark Wahlberg and the NBA all donated items.

“Anything from Pele people will want, but you mention Ronaldo, you mention Mbappe, those icons will be sought after,” said Nolan of the Portugal and France forwards.

“But because it is a charity auction people always show up. They are always extremely generous and they pay more than in a normal auction because they know it is going to a good cause.”

This is not the first auction organised by Pele.

In 2016, he auctioned more than 1,600 items from a collection he accumulated over six decades in the limelight and raised £3.6 million ($4.90 million).

This latest auction will take place at the Mall Galleries in London and is also open to online bidders.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

FRSC personnel on highway

States

FRSC commences special operation to check road crashes in Ebonyi

Mr Asanya said that the operation would last from July 21 to July 23, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cyber fraudster

Anti-Corruption

U.S. indicts Okeoghene Udugba for money laundering, defrauding FWS

The U.S.-based Nigerian, Okeoghene Patrick Udugba, 45, of Frisco, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury.

Lawyers

States

Kwara lawyers issue seven-day strike notice over unmet demands

According to the lawyers, a three-day warning strike was embarked upon between October 27 and October 28, 2025. 

Police officer

Port Harcourt

Police condemn gruesome killing of four in Rivers community

The command’s spokesperson described the incident as unfortunate and disturbing. 

Governor Abdullahi Sule

States

Gov Sule sacks six commissioners in cabinet reshuffle

Mr Magaji added that the former commissioners would continue to be part of the government.

Borno State

Health

MSF raises alarm over rising cholera cases in Borno

Mr Yakubu said MSF currently supports two cholera treatment centres and five cholera treatment units.