Brazil | A campaign to get Pelé into the dictionary

(Sao Paulo) In Brazil, where the word “Pelé” is synonymous with excellence, his former club and a television channel have launched a campaign to demand that the King of Football’s nickname be included in the dictionaries of common nouns of the language Portugese.

The term is already used frequently in popular expressions like “it’s the Pelé of swimming” (or any other field, including non-sports), or “a dribble à la Pelé”.

Considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time, Pelé, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who died on December 29 at the age of 82, is a real monument in Brazil.

The “Pelé in the dictionary” campaign was launched ten days ago by the Pelé Foundation, in partnership with Santos, the club where the triple world champion shone from 1956 to 1974, and the Sportv channel, from the Globo group, largest media conglomerate in the country.

The goal is “to formalize Pelé in the Portuguese language, as a synonym for exceptional, incomparable, unique,” reads a statement.

The official campaign website even offers a definition. “Pelé (adjective): 1. Better than others 2. Greatness reference. 3. Unmatched. 4. Synonym of excellence. 5. Unique. »

Four months after his death, the eternal number 10 of Santos and the Seleçao is still the subject of many tributes, such as a minute of silence before all matches in the Brazilian championship and South American international competitions such as the Copa Libertadores or the Copa Sudamericana.

“We already use (Pelé) as a compliment to others, it’s time to honor him by eternalizing him in the dictionary,” said Santos’ current number 10, Venezuelan Soteldo, in a promotional video.