Soccer jersey worn by Pele of the New York Cosmos

Soccer jersey worn by Pele of the New York Cosmos

<< >>
Usage conditions apply
Downloads
Description
Soccer jersey, worn by Pele as a member of the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos in 1976. Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nasciemento in 1940, is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time. He led Brazil to world cup victories in 1958, 1962 and 1970. With 1,281 goals in 1,363 games, he was named the FIFA's "player of the (20th) century."
In 1975, then the most famous footballer in the world, Pele joined the North American Soccer League, articulating his desire to help popularize soccer in the United States. He retired from the sport 1977. He has acted as a national ambassador for Brazil as well as a representative for the UN and UNICEF.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Shirt
shirt, soccer
jersey, soccer
associated institution
New York Cosmos
user
Pele
Physical Description
fabric, nylon mesh (overall material)
fabric, cotton (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 26 in x 15 in; 66.04 cm x 38.1 cm
overall, mounted: 27 1/2 in x 25 1/2 in x 10 in; 69.85 cm x 64.77 cm x 25.4 cm
ID Number
1979.1059.08
accession number
1979.1059
catalog number
1979.1059.08
Credit Line
North American Soccer League
subject
Soccer
Professional
Sports
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.   

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.

Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. We apologize for the interruption. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you require a personal response, please use our Contact page.