In 1958, the world champion team signed a very special autograph album.

• Autograph album with the signatures of the main protagonists of the 1958 victory.
• Contains 40 autographs, approximately 45 pages.
• 14.5cm x 9cm x 1cm.
• Rio de Janeiro, 1958.
• Excellent condition, with some loose pages.
• Unique piece.

There are 40 autographs in total, most of which we were able to identify: Carlos Nascimento (team doctor), Hilton Gosling (Brazilian sports journalist), Mário Trigo (team dentist), Vicente Feola (coach), Ernesto Santos (team physical trainer), Mário Américo (masseur and handyman), Thomaz Mazzoni (sports journalist), Gylmar dos Santos Neves (goalkeeper), Carlos Castilho (goalkeeper), Dilton de Sordi (player), Djalma Santos (player), Hideraldo Luiz Bellini (player), Mauro Ramos de Oliveira (player), Joel Martins (player), Nilton Santos (player), Valdemar Rodrigues, Martins, Oreco (player), Dino Sani (player), José Ely de Miranda, Zito (player), Orlando Peçanha (player), Waldyr Pereira, Didi (player), Moacir Claudino Pinto (player), Edvaldo Izidio Neto, Vavá (player), José João Altafini, Mazzola (player), Manuel Francisco dos Santos, Mané Garrincha (player), Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé (player), Edvaldo Alves de Santa Rosa, Dida (player), Mario Jorge Zagallo (player), José Macia, Pepe (player)

This autograph book is from the 1958 World Cup, held in Sweden, as indicated by the letters “VM” (which stands for “Världsmästerskap”, the Swedish term for World Cup) and the date “1958”, where the signatures of the players participating in this historic edition of the tournament were collected. The cover depicts a game scene, with players in full action in a stadium, under Swedish flags. The 1958 World Cup is especially important for Brazilian football, as it was during this tournament that Brazil won its first world title.

This album is exceptional for several reasons:

• It is complete, with all the Brazilian legends from this 1958 team: Pelé and Garrincha, of course, but also Zagallo, Gylmar, Djalma Santos, Bellini, Joel, Nilton Santos, Zito, Didi, Vavá, among others.
  
  
• Each player signed on a different page, with his full name and nickname (Pelé, Vavá, Didi, etc.), which is very rare.
  
  
• Pelé was 17 at the time and signed one of the first times with his nickname in parentheses: Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé). Nilton Santos added a small drawing, perhaps of a rocket.

The album also contains signatures from the staff who accompanied the team and played a key role in the final victory. Vicente Feola, the coach, was known for his calm temperament and careful strategist. Mário Trigo, the team's dentist, became famous for his relaxed and playful presence. Ernesto Santos, the physical trainer, was also essential to the team's performance. Mário Américo, the masseur, gained notoriety for his dedication to the players and his ability to take care of the athletes, both physically and emotionally.

The album is in excellent condition, and it is possible to see that each signature was made with care and attention, unlike most athlete autographs, which are often signed in a hurry. The recipient of this collection was clearly an important person. We do not know exactly who she was, but a likely hypothesis is Heloísa Helena (1939-1999), a famous Brazilian actress of the time. Heloísa and Zagallo were friends, and both knew Júlio Mazzei, the coach and manager who brought Pelé to the New York Cosmos. Heloísa Helena began her career in the late 1950s and became known for her roles in films such as “A Hora e a Vez de Augusto Matraga” (1965) and “O Dragão da Maldade contra o Santo Guerreiro” (1969), both directed by Glauber Rocha.

The 1958 victory marked Brazil's definitive entry into the world football scene, with legendary performances by Pelé, Garrincha, Didi, among others. In my opinion, this autograph album is the most complete and interesting ever discovered about this first historic title.