Pele Inaugurates World's First Football Museum - Honors His 1970 Shirt

We live in a football mad world. And perhaps the most passionate devotees are those found in the game's long-time powerhouse, Brazil. So it's no surprise that the country decided to sink funds into what it claims is the world's first museum devoted exclusively to football. Folks who know of Lancanshire's National Football Museum may beg to differ, but that one has not drawn nearly the kind of hype the Brazilian incarnation has.

And much of that hype surrounds a shirt Pele wore in the 1970 World Cup Final when Brazil outclassed Italy 4-1 to take home an unprecedented third championship. Some analysts hail it as the greatest game of football ever. Pele apparently left his shirt with his team manager at half time and never saw it again. So he's pleased to find that after all these years, the legendary shirt has re-surfaced to be the feature attraction in the museum. Pele feels it was high time the world had a museum devoted exlusively to football recognizing its global appeal.

The site is not without its share of controversy. It is located in the Pacaembu, a sleek stadium in Sao Paulo. This has triggered disgruntlement among those who consider the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro the game's true spiritual home.

Brazil will be hosting the World Cup in 2014 and that will be a great opportunity for die-hard fans of the game to check out the museum. One section is devoted exlusively to footage of World Cups and another gallery pays homage to Brazilian superstars through the ages.

The museum cost 10 million Pounds Sterling and is estimated to draw over 600,000 visitors every year.

Interestingly, the Museu do Futebol overlooks a plaza named after Charles Miller, the Briton who introduced the Brazilians to the game in the 19th century and thus held in great esteem by the population.