Portugal great Eusebio, 71, dies after heart attack
Tributes pour in for the country's most gifted striker, who made his mark at 1966 World Cup
Eusebio, the Portuguese football star who was born into poverty in Africa but became an international sporting icon and was voted one of the 10 best players of all time, has died aged 71, his longtime club Benfica said.
He died on Sunday at home of heart failure, his biographer, Jose Malheiro, said. “His health was very poor,” Malheiro said. Eusebio was admitted to hospital several times over the past year for the treatment of heart and respiratory problems.
On this sad day of [Eusebio’s] death ... I prefer to look upon him as immortal
Eusebio’s coffin was to be taken to Benfica’s Stadium of Light later on Sunday, public broadcaster Radiotelevisao Portuguesa reported.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal captain who plays for Real Madrid, commented on his Facebook page: “Always eternal Eusebio, rest in peace.” Former Portugal captain Luis Figo, the 2001 Fifa world player of the year, tweeted: “The king!! Great loss for us all! The greatest!!”
“On this sad day of [Eusebio’s] death ... I prefer to look upon him as immortal,” Chelsea’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho said.
Eusebio da Silva Ferreira became affectionately known as the Black Panther for his athletic prowess and clinical finishing that made him one of the world’s top scorers during his heyday in the 1960s for Benfica and the Portuguese national team.