Anyone who doesn’t know anything about football will likely recognise Pele when asked to name a player, know the meaning of his nickname
That player, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is universally regarded as a legend of the game.
In a hospital in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Pelé, the legendary player, lost his fight with cancer. The Brazilian hero lived to the age of 82.
Pele Nickname Meaning And The Story Behind It
Pelé’s real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. It is common knowledge that the decision to name him Edson was made as a tribute to Thomas Edison, the shrewd patent hoarder and self-proclaimed inventor of the light bulb.
Back in elementary school, he mispronounced the name of Vasco da Gama’s goalie Bile, which led to the nickname Pele. The more he fought against being called that, the more the name remained with him in jest.
I was named Edson, after Thomas Edison, because electricity had just been introduced to my hometown in Brazil when I was born.
— Pelé (@Pele) September 12, 2014
Pele made his debut as a professional in 1956 at the tender age of 15. In 1957, while playing for Santos FC, he scored more goals than any other player in the Brazilian championship league. Also at the age of 16, he was selected to play for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup. During the World Cup, he set a record by scoring a hat trick at such a young age, ultimately leading his team to victory and earning him the title of champion. Two more World Cups would be added to his collection.
Pele Is A National Treasure
President Janio Quadros designated Pele a “official national treasure” in an effort to retain him in Brazil after he was courted by major European clubs such as Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Real Madrid. Pele played with Santos in Brazil and helped them win multiple titles before he was transferred to the New York Cosmos in 1974.
Pele is regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Also he holds the Guinness World Record for most goals scored in a career with 1279, accumulated over 1363 games (including friendly). There’s no doubt he ranks among the all-time greats in the sport.
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