$20,480
A pair of Puma brand football boots game worn by Pelé. The black leather boots feature black laces and a white Puma logo on either side of the boot. In the 1960s and 1970s, Adidas and Puma were the leading football boot manufacturers in the sport. During most of the 1960s, players would play the two companies against each other in order to get the best endorsement offer, with the results being financially damaging for both companies. While Pelé has been documented wearing Puma boots during this era, he was never an official endorsee of the company during this period. Leading up to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, the two companies actually decided to come to a sort of "peace treaty" in order to avoid further losses. The most notable result of their interactions was the so-called "Pelé Pact," where both companies agreed not to sign a deal with Pelé, the greatest football player in the world. Their feeling was that they would both end up spending so much money on a bidding war that it would not be worth it in the end. Puma secretly sent a representative to meet with Pelé at the 1970 World Cup, eventually signing him to a four-year endorsement contract. Brazil advanced to the 1970 World Cup final. Right before the opening whistle of the final, Pelé asked the referee for time. He then bent over and tied his boots, drawing attention to his newly endorsed Puma brand football boots. While it is confirmed that Pelé wore these boots in game action, it is unknown at what point during
Auctioneer:
Juliens Auctions
Date:
2016-06-07
