Do not say "the best", say "PELÉ".

A popular Portuguese dictionary pays homage to the Brazilian soccer icon and invites you to pronounce his name when referring to someone who stands above the rest.

Published by

Alejandro Baños

27 de abril, 2023

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If you know Portuguese, from now on you will be able to refer to someone who is "the best" with the adjective "pelé" (lowercase). The Michaelis dictionary, one of the most popular dictionaries of a language spoken by more than 200 million people worldwide, decided to carry out this initiative as a tribute to Pelé, considered by many to be the best soccer player in history.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento - Pelé's birth name - died on December 29, 2022 at the age of 82, after battling cancer for more than a year. Four months after his death, O Rei - as he was also known - has received countless tributes. The one dedicated to him by Michaelis is the last of them.

Through Pelé's official Twitter account, he has expressed his gratitude for this curious and at the same time well-deserved recognition:

THE KING IS OFFICIALLY IN THE DICTIONARY! He is the Pelé of basketball. He is the Pelé of tennis. The expression that was already used to refer to the best at what he does is now eternalized in the pages of the dictionary! Together we made history and put the name of the King of soccer in our Portuguese language. Pelé, the meaning of "BEST"!

Pelé is one of the few players who have the privilege of being remembered by several generations, whose names endure over the decades. In this small group we include Maradona, Di Stefano, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. The figure of O Rei will not only remain in time for the way he played or for changing the history of soccer, but also for his eternal smile.