When Joedir Belmont bought a ticket for the 1950 World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay, he did not expect that he would still have it – in mint condition – 64 years later.

Perhaps he should have been grateful that he was unable to attend the Maracanã on 16 July that year. Everything had been set up for a Brazil win, and nothing suggested anything could rob the hosts of victory on home soil. Brazil were the reigning South American champions, and coasted through the Final Pool with a 7-1 win over Sweden and a 6-1 victory over Spain. They needed just a draw against Uruguay to lift the trophy – but they wouldn’t get it.

Uruguay’s shock 2-1 victory in what became known as the Maracanazo has sparked 64 years of hurt for Brazil. Despite their multiple successes since, losing on home soil still hurts, and still ranks as one of the greatest stories in football.

But the 21-year-old Belmont did not see it. Instead his ticket to one of the greatest finals of all time remained in his pocket, a combination of circumstances preventing him from attending.

But now, it seems, his ticket will be used to get him into a final – though not quite as he once imagined it might. Instead Belmont, who is now 85, has offered it to Fifa for display in a museum they are planning. Jerome Valcke, the general secretary of football’s world governing body, gladly accepted what is almost certainly a unique piece of footballing memorabilia. In return, he has offered Belmont and two of his children tickets to the 2014 final.

“A few months ago we received a letter from a Brazilian man who said he might be one of the only people to still have a match ticket from 1950. He knew that we were going to open a football museum,” says Valcke. “We said that we’d love to have it. And now, in return, we’ve given him tickets for this Fifa World Cup.”

Belmont has no intention of missing out a second time – and has his fingers crossed that the result will be very different from the game he missed. “I’m hoping to get to see the match this time,” he told Fifa.com, “and for Brazil to be crowned champions.”