Júlio César Soares de Espíndola, known simply as Júlio César, was a goalkeeper for the Brazil National Team from 2004 through 2014 and one of the top keepers in the world in the late 2000s. He won 87 international caps for Brazil and played on three FIFA World Cup teams (2006, 2010 and 2014), serving as the starter in 2010 and 2014. He helped his famed Italian club Inter Milan win the Serie A five times in seven seasons along with the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League title. Awarded Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009 and 2010, Júlio César was nominated for the 2009 Ballon d'Or and won UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year after the 2009–10 season. He retired from professional soccer last year.
Offered in this lot is a pair of Júlio César's match-worn goalie gloves from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa as well as one of Júlio César's goalie shirts worn in matches and practices before the 2014 FIFA World Cup in his home country. The signature model gloves, manufactured by Italian brand Reusch, are made of a soft, durable latex material designed for grip and comfort. The palm side of the hand and fingers is white, while the backhand side is black with a bright multi-colored pattern. The black and green Velcro wristguards are stamped "JULIO CESAR" on the top. Tagging inside the wrists reveals size 9-1/2. The style and exact color scheme can be easily matched to 2010 World Cup match images. He had two clean sheets in the five games as Brazil fell to the Netherlands in the Quarterfinals by the score of 2-1.
Prior to 2014 World Cup matches in Brazil, Júlio César can be seen wearing a shirt matching the exact style of this offered black and dark teal green Nike short-sleeved goalie jersey. The sleeves have an artistic arrow design in fluorescent yellow. The Nike logo and the Brazil National Team "CBF" team crest (5 stars represent Brazil's 5 WC titles) are embroidered and sewn on the chest, with his number "12" in white below. His number appears again on the back in white outlined with fluorescent yellow, with "JULIO CESAR" across the upper back in white. All letters and numbers are pressed/ironed on the 94% polyester fabric. The front left shirttail has the Nike Authentic tagging uniquely coded "00204572" and dated "2014", with wash instructions in Portuguese and the manufacturing date code "SP140412" on the inner left seam. Inside the collar is a neat design of a yellow canary in honor of the National Team's popular nickname, Canarinha, above the Nike Dri Fit Size L label. The shirt exhibits significant wear, with contact marks on the front and back as well as soiling stains on the left sleeve end. Getty images dated 6/11/2014 show Júlio César wearing this exact style goalie shirt (likely the very same one) in a pre-match training sesson.
Includes LOA from the son of the Brazil National Team's longtime kitman.