Because he loved scientist Thomas Edison, Pele was upset by his nickname and wanted to be known by his real name, Edson
Pele always wanted to be called “Edson.”
Footballer Pele Real Full Name And Nickname Meaning Explained
Since Pele loved Thomas Edison, he hated his moniker and preferred to be called by his own name, Edson. The 82-year-old Brazilian legend is definitely one of the most recognisable names and faces in football, and many people regarded him as the best player to ever play the game.
But even if the world called him Pele, the renowned forward wishes people had called him by the name his parents had given him. Edson Arantes do Nascimento is his full name, which is quite similar to the last name of the well-known American inventor Thomas Edison.
Pele was a big admirer of Thomas Edison.
The movie camera, phonograph, and early iterations of the light bulb are among the hundreds, if not thousands, of additional scientific innovations attributed to Edison. And it’s obvious that Pele, or Edson, was a big admirer.
The three-time World Cup champion said the following to Tuttosport in 2019: “I enjoyed my youth. My name is Edson, but people began referring to me as Pele. Because I didn’t like it, I got everyone into a fight. Thomas Edison was a hero to me.”
Pele’s Steller footballing career
At the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the forward made his debut on the international stage. The 17-year-old left Brazil for the first time, and when he returned, he had become a national hero by scoring twice in the world cup final and was also the youngest player to compete in the World Cup.
One of the greatest players in football history, Pelé spent nearly two decades enthralling fans and dazzling opponents while playing for Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team. Pele’s career started in the Sao Paulo state streets, where he would kick a sock stuffed with rags or newspapers, taking Brazil to the top of the football world. Pele afterwards went on to represent his sport as a global ambassador.
When talking about the greatest football players, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo are ranked with Pelé. With his extraordinary abilities and winning smile, he went on to score a record 1,281 goals and is the first player to ever win the World Cup three times.
Pele scored 1,281 goals in 1,366 games, or 0.94 goals per game, according to data published by the FIFA website. In 812 games, he scored 757 goals, including some friendlies and games he had to play in for his military responsibilities. He yet participated just as actively in battles. In 114 games in which he represented Brazil, Pelé set a record by scoring 95 goals, including 77 in competitive games.