Current:Home > MarketsBrazilian dictionary adds Pelé as adjective, synonym for "best"-LoTradeCoin
Brazilian dictionary adds Pelé as adjective, synonym for "best"
lotradecoin wallet View Date:2024-12-25 12:48:04
A Brazilian dictionary has added "Pelé" as an adjective to use when describing someone who is "exceptional, incomparable, unique."
The announcement by the Michaelis dictionary on Wednesday is part of a campaign that gathered more than 125,000 signatures to honor the late soccer great's impact beyond his sport.
The three-time World Cup champion died in December at age 82 after a fight against colon cancer.
The dictionary entry reads: "The one that is extraordinary, or who because of his quality, value or superiority cannot be matched to anything or anyone, just like Pelé; nickname of Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022), considered the best athlete of all time; exceptional, incomparable, unique. Examples: He is the Pelé of basketball, she is the Pelé of tennis, she is the Pelé of Brazilian theater, he is the Pelé of medicine."
The Pelé Foundation, Santos FC — where he played most of his career — and many Brazilians celebrated the decision by the publishers of one of the country's most popular dictionaries.
"The expression that was already used to refer to the best at something is already eternal in the pages of the dictionary," Pelé's social media channels said after the announcement. "We made history together and put the name of the King of Soccer into the Portuguese language. Pelé means 'THE BEST'."
Pelé spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game's most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team. In the conversation about soccer's greatest, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside.
- In:
- Brazil
- Sports
- Pelé
- Tennis
- World Cup
- Soccer
veryGood! (261)
Related
- Dick Van Dyke credits neighbors with saving his life and home during Malibu fire
- 2024 NFL free agency updates: Tracker for Wednesday buzz, notable moves as new league year begins
- House passes TikTok bill. Are TikTok's days numbered? What you need to know.
- Going abroad? Time to check if you're up to date on measles immunity, CDC says
- Google forges ahead with its next generation of AI technology while fending off a breakup threat
- HIV prevention drugs known as PrEP are highly effective, but many at risk don't know about them
- Mel B alleges abusive marriage left her with nothing, was forced to move in with her mom
- When is Selection Sunday for women’s March Madness? When brackets will be released.
- I loved to hate pop music, until Chappell Roan dragged me back
- Georgia House speaker aims to persuade resistant Republicans in voucher push
Ranking
- Gen Z is 'doom spending' its way through the holidays. What does that mean?
- Ex-rideshare driver accused in California antisemitic attack charged with federal hate crime
- Valerie Bertinelli is in a relationship after divorce: 'I’m incredibly grateful for him'
- After a pregnant New York teacher collapses in classroom and dies, community mourns
- Stock market today: Asian shares advance, tracking rally on Wall Street
- South Dakota prosecutors to seek death penalty for man charged with killing deputy during a pursuit
- Russian military plane with 15 people on board crashes after engine catches fire during takeoff
- South Dakota prosecutors to seek death penalty for man charged with killing deputy during a pursuit
Recommendation
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Follow Your Dreams
-
Michigan shooter's father James Crumbley declines to testify at involuntary manslaughter trial
-
Michigan shooter's father James Crumbley declines to testify at involuntary manslaughter trial
-
Storm carrying massive ‘gorilla hail’ threatens parts of Kansas and Missouri
-
Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single
-
Michigan shooter's father James Crumbley declines to testify at involuntary manslaughter trial
-
Kyle Richards Defends Kissing Hot Morgan Wade and Weighs in on Their Future
-
2024 NFL free agency updates: Tracker for Wednesday buzz, notable moves as new league year begins