Where is "Number 7"?

Ghiggia's Number 7 Jersey: A Symbol of the Maracanazo's Immortal Legacy

 

By Manuel Tiberio Bermúdez

Myths emerge suddenly, as if by magic, to give meaning to the inexplicable, to justify miracles. This enchantment travels along the paths of collective thought, leaving indelible marks, like the one etched by the legendary number 7 jersey in soccer history.

 This is what happened on an unforgettable date: July 16, 1950. A man wearing the number 7 jersey silenced 200,000 voices that, moments before, filled Brazil's Maracaná stadium with cheers. That miracle, still celebrated today, is known as "El Maracanazo."

 

That event crowned Uruguay world champions for the fourth time, defeating Brazil 2-1 in that World Cup final—a triumph that defied all odds. For those who like numbers, Uruguay won gold medals in the 1924-1928 Olympic Games (events organized by FIFA and the International Olympic Committee). Then came the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, organized exclusively by FIFA.

But the story didn't end with those events. Another fact remains a subject of speculation and investigation to this day: the whereabouts of the number 7 jersey worn by the player who, in the 79th minute, scored the decisive goal for Uruguay.

His name was Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia, a Uruguayan soccer player who carried the glory of becoming a legendary figure in world soccer thanks to the goal he scored in the 1950 Maracanazo.

 The Jersey

It's worth remembering that FIFA formalized the use of numbers on the back of players' jerseys in the 1950 World Cup.

Ghiggia's jersey has become the holy grail of soccer, not only for its material value but also for symbolizing an impossible triumph. It's an object shrouded in mystery, inspiring speculation, incredible stories, and fascinating legends.

 

The myth also relates to the symbolism of the number 7, considered mystic and powerful since ancient times. This adds an esoteric dimension to Ghiggia's jersey.

In Babylonian mythology, seven visible planets were associated with deities; in Judaism, the seventh day is Shabbat, a day of rest; in Christianity, there are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and the seven deadly sins; and in numerology, 7 represents spirituality and success after effort. This mystical aura elevates Ghiggia's jersey to a symbol in soccer history.

In the world of soccer, the number 7 has been worn by legends like Garrincha, Beckham, Jairzinho, Eric Cantona, Raúl González, George Best, Bebeto, and Griezmann. It was Ghiggia who turned it into a talisman, as fans of his time believed that number gave the player special energy.

Currently, Cristiano Ronaldo, considered the best number 7 in history, and Lucho Díaz, who wears the number 7 for the Colombian national team and stands out for his brilliance, have also worn it.

The Legends Behind the Garment

Today, the soccer world wonders where Ghiggia's mythical jersey, an icon of sports history, could be. With the goal he scored in 1950, he not only secured victory for his team but also forged a legend by proudly declaring: "Only three people have ever silenced the Maracaná: Frank Sinatra, the Pope, and I."

Therefore, Ghiggia's jersey is no ordinary garment: its fabric holds the triumphant joy of the stadium and the silence that enveloped the Maracaná after the player's incredible goal.

The value of that jersey transcends economics. Others have been auctioned for millions, like the one Maradona wore in the 1986 World Cup. However, its true value isn't just material but symbolic: it represents the inexplicable and unexpected in soccer history. It is the most iconic number seven in the history of impossible victories.

The Gift to San Cono

Among the chronicles surrounding the number 7 jersey, one asserts that, after the World Cup, Ghiggia and other teammates promised to donate their soccer belongings to the Chapel of San Cono in Florida, Uruguay, as a token of gratitude for the victory. According to that version, Ghiggia left his jersey on the altar, but a robbery in the chapel, with no confirmed date or supporting documents, left only Julio Pérez's number 8 jersey. This event gives Ghiggia's jersey the character of a legend. Some speculate it was lost forever, while others claim Ghiggia kept it through another 1950 world champion.

Did Cantinflas Have It?

Another version claims that in 1953, Mario Moreno "Cantinflas," who was honorary president of Club América of Mexico, donated a jersey to the club that, according to him, was the number 7 Ghiggia had worn in the World Cup final against Brazil.

 

The Mexican press enthusiastically reported the event, but it could not be confirmed that it was that specific jersey. Apparently, in 1951, Cantinflas received a light blue jersey in Punta del Este from Uruguayan journalist Nobel Valentini, but it was later said that that jersey was Julio Pérez's number 8, not Ghiggia's 7.

Arcadio Ghiggia, the player's son, pointed out that the supposed jersey given to "Cantinflas" had notable differences from the original design: thicker white borders, a less opaque light blue, and the number was not red, as the original jersey had. Even so, the version of the jersey's theft given by the son himself was never confirmed by his father, which also casts doubt on his son's statements.

Other investigations suggest that Ghiggia never donated the jersey. His son said that his father gave several objects to San Cono, but Ghiggia himself gave contradictory versions about the final destination of his shoes and jersey. This suggests that the jersey was kept for a long time and that Ghiggia himself shrouded its whereabouts in mystery so that it would never be lost and its symbolic value would be perpetuated.

The most superstitious assure that the jersey is protected by a supernatural force linked to the number 7 and that it is destined to remain hidden until Uruguay wins another World Cup. There's also a version that it is one of the best-kept treasures by the National Museum of England (Manchester) and that its value is incalculable.

The Number 7 and Ghiggia

The symbolism of the number 7 pursued Ghiggia. His jersey was number 7. The player is remembered for scoring the winning goal against Brazil in the 34th minute of the second half (3+4=7).

The 1950 World Cup final was played on July 16, 1950, which is 6+1=7 for the date of the game, and July is the seventh month of the year. Ghiggia died on July 16, 2015. The sum of the date and the month of the year repeats, and by further coincidence, he died on the same date El Maracanazo occurred.

Does the Jersey Exist? Where Is It?

The jersey's whereabouts remain an enigma. Does Club América of Mexico have it? Is it in the hands of private collectors, or is it safeguarded in the National Museum of England? It has been said that very few people know the jersey's whereabouts and that Ghiggia revealed the secret to his wife and an important Uruguayan journalist months before his death.

Until the iconic number 7 jersey, worn by Ghiggia when he silenced 200,000 souls and frustrated a country's celebration, appears, it will remain a mystery symbolizing the miracle of an impossible victory. It represents the inexplicable and interprets the maxim that "a game isn't over until the final whistle blows."

So: Where is Ghiggia's number 7 jersey?

Ghiggia's number 7 jersey is more than a souvenir. It signifies courage, gallantry, the desire to overcome the impossible. It's the representation of the miracle of soccer, the magic that amazes.

It's a reminder of an unforgettable moment: "El Maracanazo." Whoever possesses it holds the greatest relic commemorating the universal passion that moves crowds: soccer.

Uruguayan journalist Jorge Gutiérrez Pérez conducted exhaustive research, and for the first time, elements are provided that allow for the conclusion that the jersey does exist and always has. The player himself stated: "Máspoli kept it for a long time, along with a jersey from the Argentine club Atlanta, where Ghiggia played a game alongside Adolfo Pedernera, and a laceless ball."

Gutiérrez recounts that when pressed about the jersey's whereabouts, Ghiggia again replied, "now they couldn't be in better hands," referring to the two jerseys mentioned.

The journalist also states that a notarized document confirms the existence of the iconic jersey and that it is currently in the possession of a renowned historian and collector. I would add that the jersey did not disintegrate; it exists. It is somewhere north of our south, and undoubtedly, "in very good hands."

What Ghiggia told Uruguayan journalist Gutiérrez Pérez, and, according to the communicator, a notarized document resolves the enigma, leading me to conclude that the miracle of "El Maracanazo" continues to resonate with the existence of the most emblematic piece in the history of World Cup finals.