In Brazil, no one forgets Pelé. So much so that his nickname is used in popular expressions to refer to something unique like, “he’s the Pelé of judo” (usable in any field with any field). A campaign has been underway for ten days to add it to the Brazilian encyclopedia of common names.
The three-time World Cup winner enjoyed the heyday of the Seleção from 1957 to 1971. Real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé died on December 29, 2022 at the age of 82 and he remains an indisputable monument. in football country. Four months after his death, the tributes for the king of world football still haven’t stopped. And a minute of silence is still observed before all league matches in Brazil and also during South American competitions. But this time, the tribute goes further…
Led by the Pelé Foundation and its former club Santos, the “Pelé in the dictionary” campaign is supported by the SportTv channel of the Globo group. The objective is to be able to formalize the term in the Portuguese language as a synonym of exceptional, incomparable, unique. In a promotional video, the Venezuelan Soteldo, number 10 of the team, says: “We already use (Pelé) as a compliment for others, it’s time to pay homage to him by eternalizing him in the dictionary. »
The movement has already pondered a broad, unambiguous definition of “Pelé”: 1. Better than the rest; 2. Size reference; 3. Unmatched; 4. Synonym of excellence; 5. Unique.
