Pelé's Legacy Cemented: Football Legend Honored with Dictionary Entry

Legendary football icon Pelé, known for his exceptional skills and incomparable talent, has now been officially honored with his name becoming an adjective in the Michaelis dictionary, a renowned Portuguese-language dictionary in Brazil. The decision to include “Pelé” as a new entry in the online edition came after a successful campaign initiated by the Pelé Foundation, garnering over 125,000 signatures in support of the football star.

The great footballer, widely considered the greatest footballer in history, passed away at the age of 82 in December. He achieved the remarkable feat of winning the World Cup three times, a record that remains unmatched. Throughout his illustrious career spanning two decades, he scored a staggering 1,281 goals for Santos, his Brazilian club, the national team, and the New York Cosmos.

Following his untimely demise due to complications from colon cancer, Santos, sports channel SporTV, and the Pelé Foundation joined forces to advocate for the recognition of Pelé’s name as an official entry in the dictionary. The publishers of the Michaelis dictionaries promptly responded by announcing the inclusion of “Pelé” as an adjective in the digital edition, with plans to incorporate it in the next printed version.

The dictionary entry defines “Pelé” as an adjective used to describe someone or something that is extraordinary, exceptional, incomparable, and unique, aligning with the remarkable qualities possessed by the football legend himself. The Pelé Foundation expressed gratitude for this tribute to “the king” and highlighted how the expression already conveyed the notion of being the best at what one does, solidifying its eternal place within the pages of the dictionary.

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Khalid Javed

Khalid Javed is known as Khalid Minhas is editor of Daily Olympic.He is a seasoned journalist and worked with different national and international media outlets.