Pelé's Name Included in Portuguese Dictionary as Synonym for 'Best'

The Brazilian Michaelis dictionary of Portuguese has officially included the name of footballer Pelé as a synonym for the word 'best'. This was announced by the Pelé Foundation on Twitter.

According to the dictionary's website, the definition of the word 'pelé' states: 'He who is beyond the ordinary, whose quality, value, or excellence cannot be compared to anything or anyone else; unique, incomparable, exceptional.'

The dictionary has also provided three examples of the use of 'pelé' in Portuguese.

It is worth noting that Pelé’s real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. He received his nickname in childhood in honor of the goalkeeper of the 'Vasco da Gama' club, Bile, whose name he mispronounced during his early years.

Pelé passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82. FIFA recognized Pelé as the best football player of the 20th century. He is the only player to have won the World Cup three times as a player, in 1958, 1962, and 1970. He made 92 appearances for the Brazil national team and scored 77 goals.