LONDON.- The shirt worn by the legendary Brazilian footballer Pelé in his final international appearance for Brazil versus Yugoslavia on 18 July 1971 is to be sold at Bonhams, Chester as part of its Sporting Memorabilia sale on 20 October 2010. It has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £8,000 – 10,000.

Widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, Pelé retired from international football when he was still a top player. He had completed 111 appearances with an international scoring record of 97 goals. At the end of his final game, which was played in Rio de Janeiro’s Macarana Stadium, he swapped his shirt with Yugoslavia’s number six, Dragon Holcar, confirmed in a statement by Holcar that accompanies the lot. The shirt was subsequently displayed in a cafe in Split, Croatia for over twenty years.

Another football-related highlight is a limited edition George Best Fabergé egg (number 37 of only 68 produced – 37 being the number of games Best played for Northern Ireland), commemorating the part that Best played in Manchester United’s victory in the 1968 European Cup against Benfica, Portugal. Estimated at £15,000 – 20,000, the egg comprises a copy of a European Cup medal at the front, a football League Champions badge at the back and the official 1968 crest of Manchester United and Northern Ireland on either side.

The sale also includes a George Best Northern Ireland match worn shirt (estimate £5,000 – 6,000), which was the last shirt worn by Best for Northern Ireland while a Manchester United player on 14 November 1973; two match worn shirts belonging to Bobby Moore, one from a 1970 West Ham game (estimate £5,000 – 6,000) and the other from a 1963 England international game (estimate £4,000 – 5,000); Bobby Charlton’s match worn shirt from an England international game (estimate £1,500 – 2,000); and three caps (one European and two international) awarded to Geoff Hurst between 1967 and 1972.

Further highlights include two signed Gunn and Moore cricket bats used by South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs, the first when batting for South Africa versus Australia on 12 March 2006 (estimate £3,500 – 5,000); and the second on 16 March 2007 (estimate £2,500 – 3,500).

A 1977 Canadian Open Snooker Championship awarded to the late Alex Higgins is expected to fetch £3,000 – 3,500.