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Brazil legend Pele is auctioning off over 2,000 items of personal memorabilia, including his three World Cup medals and a one-of-a-kind Jules Rimet trophy, to allow fans to own a piece of his history. Pele, 75, is considered to be the greatest footballer of all time having scored 1,283 goals in a career which also saw him win three World Cups for Brazil -- his first as a 17-year-old in 1958. The striker played for Santos FC and the New York Cosmos in a 21-year career and a three-day auction will take place in London from June 7-9 with some of the proceeds to be donated to the Puerto Principe children's hospital in Curitiba. Pele, who has been in hospital recently for a replacement hip and prostate surgery, said he had "decided to allow fans and collectors to own a piece of my history as well. I hope they treasure these artefacts and share my story with their children and generations to come." The Jules Rimet trophy to be auctioned was created especially for Pele by world football body FIFA and the Mexican government after the 1970 World Cup and has an estimate of $400,000-$600,000. "It is such a unique item. We think that is a very conservative estimate," Martin Nolan, executive director of Beverly Hills-based Julien's Auctions, told Reuters. "This is possibly something that could sell for up to $1 million." Other items for sale include Pele's 1977 New York Cosmos North American Soccer League (NASL) championship ring and the ball with which he scored his 1,000th career goal.
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