<p>A Brazilian dictionary has added “Pelé” as an adjective to use when describing someone who is “exceptional, incomparable, unique.”</p>.<p>The announcement by the Michaelis dictionary on Wednesday is part of a campaign that gathered more than 125,000 signatures to honour the late soccer great's impact beyond his sport.</p>.<p>The three-time World Cup champion died in December at age 82 after a fight against colon cancer.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Examples: He is the Pelé of basketball, she is the Pelé of tennis, she is the Pelé of Brazilian theatre, he is the Pelé of medicine.”</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>“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.</p>.<p>“We made history together and put the name of the King of Soccer into the Portuguese language. Pelé means THE BEST'.”</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>In the conversation about soccer's greatest, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside. (AP)</p>.<p>VM VM</p>
<p>A Brazilian dictionary has added “Pelé” as an adjective to use when describing someone who is “exceptional, incomparable, unique.”</p>.<p>The announcement by the Michaelis dictionary on Wednesday is part of a campaign that gathered more than 125,000 signatures to honour the late soccer great's impact beyond his sport.</p>.<p>The three-time World Cup champion died in December at age 82 after a fight against colon cancer.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Examples: He is the Pelé of basketball, she is the Pelé of tennis, she is the Pelé of Brazilian theatre, he is the Pelé of medicine.”</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>“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.</p>.<p>“We made history together and put the name of the King of Soccer into the Portuguese language. Pelé means THE BEST'.”</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>In the conversation about soccer's greatest, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside. (AP)</p>.<p>VM VM</p>