World-renowned soccer player Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, died of colon cancer on Dec. 29, as confirmed by The New York Times. The legendary athlete has long been called the GOAT of soccer, ...

Discover the cultural history behind soccer's famous mononyms and how traditional nicknames transformed legends like Pelé, Ronaldo, and Kaká into household names.

Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento and was named for inventor Thomas Edison. (Joedson Alves/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images) Perspective by Steven Goff On a rainy fall afternoon in 1977, at a ...

Pele is hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates after Brazil won the World Cup final against Italy, 4-1, in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, June 21, 1970. [AP photo] Pele passed away on Thursday at ...