In 1976, Pelé participated in an exhibition in Japan with the Cosmos and signed an autograph for a fan.
Photograph of Pelé playing soccer in Japan, signed by him, with English text on the back.
+/- 21 cm x 15 cm.
Japan, 1976.
Excellent condition.
Unique piece.
The image shows Pelé in action on the field. The player is wearing jersey number 10 and dribbling the ball during a match. There is a handwritten dedication on the photo that reads "To my friend Pelé". On the back of the photo, there is English text describing a match played by the New York Cosmos at "Tokyo Soccer Field" against Furukawa, a Japanese team. The text adds that "Pelé puts heart and soul into the act, as always," and also mentions the photo's source, Sipa Press, a renowned press agency. The match took place on September 1, 1976, in Tokyo, during the Cosmos' Asian tour. This game was part of a series of international exhibitions aimed at promoting soccer in the United States and worldwide, with Pelé as an ambassador for this expansion.
Although Pelé signed thousands of shirts, papers, or books throughout his career, photographs of the King in action, autographed by him at the time, are much rarer and sought after by fans and collectors worldwide. The photograph shows Pelé in action, is large format, is in perfect condition, with a beautiful dedication and the mention 'Pelé puts heart and soul into the act, as always' on the back, which adds an extra emotion. It is, in my opinion, a very special piece.
