Following the launching of “Pele in the dictionary” campaign by Pele foundation and Sport earlier this month, the name of the Brazilian legend has now been included as a new adjective in the Portuguese edition of the Michaelis dictionary.
According to Reuters, the efforts were geared towards paying tribute and recognition to his legacy in other fields besides sport.
Having reached more than 100,000 signatures, the name of the three time world cup player who died in December, is now an entry in the dictionary and is now a word to describe ‘someone out of the ordinary’
“Pe.lé® adj m+f sm+f That or someone who is out of the ordinary, who or who by virtue of their quality, value or superiority cannot be equalled to anything or anyone, just like Pelé®,” says the dictionary entry which was unveiled at the Summit Sports event, in Pacaembu, on Wednesday”
The executive director of Pele foundation,Joe Fraga, said “The Pele campaign in the dictionary is one of the most original we have ever participated… His name in the dictionary is a very important piece of his legacy that will keep Pele alive forever,”
“Edson’s nickname Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022), considered the greatest athlete of all time; exceptional, incomparable, unique. Examples: He is the Pele of basketball, she is the Pele of tennis, she is the Pele of Brazilian dramaturgy, he is the Pele of medicine”.
The family of the late football enigma was presented with a plaque with the entry and Michaelis has already included it in its digital edition. The definition will also be included in the next printed version.
Meanwhile, one of the major efforts to idolise Pele was championed by FIFA after his funeral. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has encouraged that member country to name stadium in their respective nation after Pele- a call that is now been yielded to across the globe.
Pele died last year at the age of 82 years.