World Cup: Brazil’s Felipe Melo picks a name with golden boot connections

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What’s in a name?

Well, U.S. forward Edson Buddle will tell you that the fact that his father named him after Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, probably had a lot to do with the career path he has followed.

Now, Brazilian defensive midfielder Felipe Melo has told the BBC that he named his own son Lineker, after former England World Cup standout Gary Lineker, in the hopes that it will lead to great things for the boy

‘I gave that name to my son because I find it very beautiful, different ... and an honor,’ he said. ‘He was a great player, a big name in the national team of England and in the history of the English national team.’

That he was. Everyone remembers Diego Maradona leading Argentina to the World Cup in 1986, but not as many recall that it was Lineker who was the tournament’s top scorer and golden boot winner with six goals.

He scored 48 goals in 80 games for England, including 10 in World Cup play, still an England record.

Somewhere in Brazil, a little Lineker could be dreaming of one day emulating his namesake.

-- Grahame L. Jones