Guinness World Records has officially recognized a 41-year-old Brazilian man for owning the world’s largest collection of soccer shirts.
Cassio Brandão, a passionate collector, has amassed 6,101 soccer shirts since he began his collection in 2000. His impressive array includes rare jerseys from legendary player Pelé and a 1998 World Cup shirt autographed by Brazilian star Ronaldo.
“These are more than just 6,101 pieces of fabric; they represent 6,101 stories that help us tell the history of soccer,” Brandão told Reuters. Globally, the sport is known as football.
Brandão stores his extensive collection at Alambrado Soccer & Culture, a club he founded in São Paulo. This club, which he started to bring fellow enthusiasts together, hosts 60 members who share stories and trade jerseys. During presentations, Brandão wears white gloves to carefully handle the shirts.
One highlight of Brandão’s collection is the jersey Pelé wore when he met Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1968. This encounter took place at a match held in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã stadium during her official visit to Brazil.
Pelé remains a central figure at Alambrado, with the club showcasing numerous signed shirts and photos of the soccer legend, who passed away in December 2022.
“Some shirts can be valued up to 40,000 reais, but a Pelé shirt is priceless,” Brandão said. Forty thousand reais are approximately $7,200.
Among his prized possessions is also a 1994 Brazil jacket worn by seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton at last year’s São Paulo Grand Prix. The British driver, who holds honorary Brazilian citizenship, borrowed the jacket for the event.
A significant portion of Brandão’s collection is dedicated to his local club, Corinthians. This includes jerseys from Ronaldo’s time with the team and shirts worn by his favorite player, Socrates.
“Each shirt holds a story,” Brandão remarked. “Stories of victories, defeats, and triumphs. They document a bit of the history of the world’s greatest sport.”
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