Extremely rare original ticket stub for a 1958 FIFA World Cup Group 4 match between Brazil and the Soviet Union at the Nya Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 15, 1958, which marked the historic World Cup debut of legendary footballer Pele, who, at the age of 17, became the youngest player ever to participate in the competition. The ticket, 4.5 x 3.25, is issued as ‘Ovre Laktaren’ (Upper Grandstand), ‘Sektion Q,’ ‘Vanster’ (Left), and ‘Plats 38’ (Seat). In very fine condition. Encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as “FR 1.5.”
Brazil faced off against the USSR in the third match of the first round of the 1958 FIFA World Cup, a game that saw the debut of 17-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Brazil won the match 2-0 and the young Pele made it into the scorebook by assisting Vava on his second goal. Against France in the semi-final, with Brazil leading 2-1 at the half, Pele continued to amaze, putting the contest out of reach by scoring a hat-trick and subsequently becoming the youngest player in World Cup history to do so.
On June 29, 1958, Pele became the youngest player to play in a World Cup final match. Unfazed by the moment, he scored two goals in the final as Brazil beat Sweden 5-2. His first goal—flicking the ball over a defender and volleying it into the corner of the net—was selected as one of the best goals in the history of the World Cup. He finished the tournament with six goals in four matches played and was named the ‘best young player’ of the tournament.
