There was big news in the world of soccer memorabilia today, as Bonhams announced an auction featuring the last ever international football shirt to be worn by Brazilian footballer Pele.
The sale is to be held on October 20, 2010 as part of a Sporting Memorabilia auction in Chester, with this piece promising to be the star attraction.
The shirt was worn during the Brazil legend's final international appearance in a friendly with Yugoslavia on July 18, 1971.
Pele is widely considered to be the greatest player of all time, with an astonishing international record that boasted 97 goals in 111 appearances for the national side.
 Pele's final match worn Brazil shirt |
At the end of his final international match at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana Stadium, Pele swapped his last shirt with that of Yugoslavia's Dragon Holcar.
For over twenty years, the piece was displayed in a cafe in Split, Croatia. But next month, this piece of football history is set to auction with a pre-sale estimate of £8,000-10,000 ($12,370 - 15,460).
The Chester event will include an array of football related collectibles, with a limited edition George Best Fabergé egg set to impress.
The piece is one of only 68 which were originally produced in recognition of the part Best played in the Manchester United 1968 European Cup victory against Portuguese giants Benfica.
The egg features a copy of the European Cup medal on its front whilst a football league champions badge can be found on the back of the piece and is accompanied by the 1968 Manchester United and Northern Ireland crests on either side.
This valuable piece of English league football memorabilia is estimated at £15,000-20,000 ($23,190 - 30,920) and could prove to be one of the star lots at the October sale.
Elsewhere, a match-worn George Best Northern Ireland shirt comes to the auction with a target price of £5,000 - 6,000 ($7,730 - 9,275). The shirt has special significance as the last worn by Best whilst still a Manchester United played back in November 14, 1973.
And for those collectors of England football collectibles, the event will also see the sale of two match worn shirts from the legendary Bobby Moore.
The first was worn during a 1970 West Ham game and has a pre-auction estimate of £5,000-6,000 ($7,730 - 9,275.) The second comes from a 1963 England international game and carries a valuation of £4,000 - 5,000 ($6,180 - 7,730).
In addition to this, the sale will feature a match-worn England shirt from Bobby Charlton, as well as three caps from 1966 World cup final hero Geoff Hurst.
And away from football, Bonham's Chester auction will also include memorabilia from the world of cricket and snooker.
Two signed cricket bats used by South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs are also coming up for auction. The first comes from a South Africa match against Australia on March 12, 2006 and carries an estimate of £3,500 - 5,000 ($5,410 - 7,730) whilst the second dates back to March 16, 2007 and has a lower estimate of £2,500 - 3,500 ($3,865 - 5,410).
Alongside this, the event will feature a 1977 Canadian Open Snooker Championship that was awarded to the late Alex Higgins. This piece is expected to sell for £3,000-3,500 ($4,640 - 5,410).
The Sporting memorabilia sale takes place on October 20, 2010 at Bonham's Chester auction house.
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