Former Portugal footballer Eusebio, often ranked as one
of the best players ever, has died at the age of 71, his
former club has confirmed.
The forward was the top scorer in the 1966 World Cup as
he guided his team to third place in the tournament.
The 71-year-old reportedly died early on Sunday morning
of cardiac failure.
Portuguese state television channel RTP quoted his his
biographer, Joao Malheiro, as saying: "Having followed
his life close up and on a daily basis, I was a witness to
his health having become very fragile and there were
clear signs of this in recent years.
"At the moment though this isn't the most important
thing, what's most important is to remember the man
who was, and always will be, in the place of the imortals
of this country and was clearly of emblematic importance
for Portuguese in the 20th century, above all during the
1960s when Portugal lived under a dictatorship."
The 71-year-old's health was reportedly deteriorating
for some time
Nicknamed the Black Panther or the Black Pearl,
Eusebio spent most of career with Benfica in Portugal
after moving from the then Portuguese territory
Laurenco Marquez, now Mapatu in Mozambique.
The club's fans will be offered the chance to pay their
final respects to the player at the Estadio da Luz later
on Sunday.
"Eusebio's body will be brought to the stadium later today
and all fans will be able to say goodbye," the spokesman
said.
"It's a very sad day for all of us."
Eusebio spent most of his career with Benfica in Portugal
Current Portugal star Ronaldo posted a picture of
himself and Eusebio on his Facebook page.
"Eusebio will always be eternal. Rest in peace," he wrote
alongside the picture.
Former Portugal captain Luis Figo, the 2001 FIFA world
player of the year, tweeted: "The king!! Great loss for
us all! The greatest!!"
Franz Beckenbauer, the former Germany player and
manager, said: "One of the greatest football players ever
has passed away. My friend Eusebio died last night. My
thoughts are with his family."
Eusebio with current Portugal captain Ronaldo in 2008
Eusebio scored 733 goals in 745 competitive games -
including 317 goals in 301 appearances for Benfica - over
his career and in a poll conducted for Uefa's Golden
Jubilee celebrations in 2004 he was voted as the 7th best
European footballer to have played the game.
He won the European Cup with Benfica in 1962 and was
named European Footballer of the Year in 1965.
In an interview in 2011, recalling his tears after a 2-1
World Cup semi-final loss to England, Eusebio said: "I was
the best player in the world, top scorer in the world and
Europe. I did everything, except win a World Cup."

stew : news.sky.com/story/1190439/eusebio-portugal-football-legend-dies

pics

Rip Eusebio. .truly portugal's greatest

oya moderator. .front page things. ;Doya moderator. .front page things.

rip true legend. ..but u for wait make Cr7 surpass your 41 goals na....well space booked...