In Brazil, where “Pelé” is synonymous with excellence, a campaign has been launched to add the title “King of Soccer” to the dictionary of common Portuguese names.
The term is often used in idioms such as “it’s a swimming belay” (or any other field, including outdoor sports) or “belay-style dribbling”.
Knowing that Pele’s real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele was considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time, and that he died last December at the age of 82.
The campaign “Pele in the Dictionary” was launched 10 days ago by the Pele Foundation, with Santos Club, the three-time world champion between 1956 and 1974, and Globo Group’s “Sport F” channel. The country’s largest media conglomerate.
The statement said the goal was to formalize pele in the Portuguese language as a word synonymous with exceptional, incomparable, individuality.
Even the campaign’s official website gives the definition of “Pele (adjective): 1. Better than others 2. Reference to greatness 3. Peerless 4. Outstanding 5. Unique”.
Four months after his death, he still honors the owner of number 10 on several occasions, such as observing a minute’s silence before all matches in the Brazilian league and South American competitions such as the Copa Libertadores or the Copa Sudamericana.
Venezuelan Sotildo, currently ranked 10th in Santos, says in a promotional video: “We have already used (Pele) as a compliment to others, it’s time to honor him by immortalizing him in the dictionary.”
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