First ever Pelé trading card from the 1958 World Cup

Pelé [i.e., Edson Arantes do Nascimento]. Alfa trading card.

€ 50.000,00

Incredibly rare Alfa trading care of Pelé (1940-2022) from the year of Brazil's first World Cup title. This coloured Alfa image shows Pelé during the World Cup in Stockholm in 1958. Pelé was only 17 years old at the time of the championship, and this picture is most likely the first collector's photograph and subsequent trading card of Pelé ever to be made. On the back is a short printed text about the future international superstar, written in Swedish.

Pelé, full name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was born 23 October 1940 in Três Corações in Minas Gerais, and is today the most famous Brazilian former football player, and one of the most famous athletes in the world. He played in Brazil's national team in 1957-71 and contributed greatly to the team's World Cup gold medals in 1958 and 1970. For many, he remains the face of the beautiful game.

Alfa pictures were collector's cards that came with the wrappers of Alfa Bobbykola and Alfa pastilles in Sweden. The pastilles themselves were not much more than slightly sweet hard candy, and many people bought them just for the sake of the pictures. Around 1,700 pictures of athletes were published during the years 1949-1961, originally in black and white, but from 1955 in colour. Initially only football/soccer players were portrayed, but from 1956 onwards ice hockey players were included.

Remarkably well preserved and vanishingly difficult to find on the market.