Why was Pele called Pele remains a mystery to many, even after the Brazilian icon passed away at the age of 82, as confirmed by BBC.
The veteran transcended football, with millions of fans across the world mourning the death of one of the game’s greatest ever players.
Even youngsters such as Kylian Mbappe have paid tribute to the legendary footballer, who changed the sport forever ever since lifting his first out of three World Cup trophies in 1958.
After suffering from several health problems, the Santos legend left the world on Thursday night.
But his legacy is guaranteed to live forever.
For now, here is the origin behind his name.
The reason behind the iconic Pele nickname
For those that remain unaware, the ex-Vasco de Gama superstar was actually the late great’s nickname.
In reality, the now-departed pioneer’s real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
The man himself himself explained the origins, which were linked to an old teammate of his father’s named Bilé.
“When I was three or four, my father, Dondinho, would take me along to Vasco training sessions. “
“Whenever I could, I used to nip into the goal and play around, and whenever I managed to stop a shot, I’d shout, ‘Good one, Bilé!’ or ‘Great save, Bilé!’”
“Since he was a small kid, the pronunciation was a little off and sounded more like Pilé. When we moved to Bauru, this ‘Pilé’ became ‘Pele.’
“Either I changed it myself or according to my uncle Jorge, it was because of my thick Minas Gerais accent”, he wrote in an article for the Guardian in 2006.
That is the answer to why was Pele called Pele, by the hero himself.
How did Pele die?
BBC echoed the hospital’s statement, which read out as, “due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous clinical condition.”
All one can send is love and strength to his friends and family during such a tough time.