Former Portuguese footballer EUSEBIO, "widely acknowledged as one of the game’s greatest ever players," died Sunday at the age of 71, according to Tomas Jivanda of the London INDEPENDENT. Eusebio da Silva Ferreira "was born in Mozambique before moving to Lisbon in his late teens" to join Portuguese side Benfica from his local club. On the int'l stage, Eusebio "made his name as a fearsome striker for Portugal at the 1966 World Cup, where he was the top-scorer with nine goals, helping his adopted country finish third." Nicknamed the "Black Panther in Portugal, across his career, Eusebio scored 733 goals in 745 competitive games." The Portuguese sports daily A'Bola "said Eusebio had died of a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning." A spokesperson for Benfica "confirmed of the death but did not provide any details" (INDEPENDENT, 1/5). The BBC reported Eusebio had been "admitted to hospital several times over the past year for the treatment of heart and respiratory problems." CRISTIANO RONALDO was "among those to pay tribute." Ronaldo tweeted, "Always eternal, Eusebio, rest in peace," alongside a "picture of both men together." Former Portugal winger LUIS FIGO tweeted, "The king! Great loss for all of us! The greatest!" FA Chair GREG DYKE said, "He was the [Lionel] Messi or Ronaldo of his time" (BBC, 1/5).
BENFICA TO PAY RESPECTS: The London TELEGRAPH reported Benfica fans will "now be offered the chance to pay their final respects to the player at the Estadio da Luz later on Sunday." A Benfica spokesperson said, "Eusebio's body will be brought to the stadium later today and all fans will be able to say goodbye" (TELEGRAPH, 1/5).
LISBON FLAGS AT HALF-MAST: The AFP reported the Portuguese government "also decreed three days of national mourning, with flags in Lisbon to fly at half-mast." The Portuguese Football Federation said that "there would be a minute's silence ahead of Sunday's Portuguese Cup games, as tributes flowed in for the player." FIFA President SEPP BLATTER tweeted, "Football has lost a legend. But Eusebio's place among the greats will never be taken away." Former Benfica coach TONI said, "There are princes of football but Eusebio was in the gallery of kings." Former players "paid tribute to Eusebio," including former ManU goalkeeper ALEX STEPNEY, who "famously saved a late shot from Eusebio during the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley." Stepney: "I made the save and out of the corner of my eye I saw him still standing in front of me. It was only afterwards that I saw what he had done. The fact he was standing there clapping before running away is a mark of the man." Portuguese PM PEDRO PASSOS COELHO said, "He was a football genius, an example of humility, an excellent athlete, a generous and supportive man. He was for all the fans an example of professionalism, determination and dedication" (AFP, 1/6).
EUSEBIO'S BIGGEST MOMENTS: The AP's Barry Hatton reported "none of Eusebio's goals were more famous than those he netted against North Korea in the quarterfinals of the 1966 World Cup." With Portugal trailing 3-0, "Eusebio inspired his team's turnaround with four goals and an eventual 5-3 victory." While Portugal "went on to lose" to eventual champion England in the semifinals, "Eusebio became even more popular at home when he wept openly as he left the field following the defeat." In '98, a "panel of 100 experts gathered by FIFA named him in its International Football Hall of Fame as one of the sport's top 10 all-time greats." Eusebio said of the honor, "Look, there are only two black people on the list: me and PELE. I regard that as a great responsibility because I am representing Africa and Portugal, my second homeland" (AP, 1/5).
EUSEBIO REMEMBERED: EUROSPORT reported Benfica coach JORGE JESUS said of Eusebio, "He was humble and loved to work because only like that one can turn talent into becoming a great player." Portugal President ANIBAL CAVACO SILVA said, "The country weeps at his death. The best way to pay homage to him, the way in which the 'Black Panther' himself would like to be paid homage would be to follow his example" (EUROSPORT, 1/5). The BBC reported former Arsenal midfielder GEORGE GRAHAM said, "He was one of the great players, especially playing for Portugal in the World Cup in England -- he was phenomenal in that World Cup. It's very sad to see one of the greats die." Former England int'l JIMMY ARMFIELD said, "There were some African players in France, Portugal and Spain at the time but he was the first African footballer to be a true great" (BBC, 1/5). The FINANCIAL TIMES' Simon Kuper wrote several "richer foreign clubs tried to sign him from Benfica." However, Portuguese dictator ANTÓNIO SALAZAR "wouldn’t let him leave, and to ensure he stayed, even made him do three years' military service in the anti-aircraft artillery." For Salazar, Eusebio "was the ideal symbol of the Portuguese empire: a determinedly apolitical sportsman, whose magnificent body seemed to incarnate the natural treasures of the colonies." Eusebio "later called Salazar a 'slave master' of both himself and Portugal, but didn’t speak out during his career." Eusebio later explained that he "feared jail" (FT, 1/5). MARCA reported Real Madrid's XABI ALONSO tweeted, "RIP Eusebio (1942-2014). A great footballer ..." TV presenter GARY LINEKER tweeted, "Sad news that Eusebio has died. One of the greats of his generation. Could play and strike a ball like very few others. #RIP" (MARCA, 1/5). ... In London, Matt Barlow wrote Chelsea Manager JOSE MOURINHO said Eusebio, a teammate of Mourinho's father, used to send him a birthday present every year. Mourinho: 'Eusebio is one of the greatest footballers of the history of football, especially for people from our generation and older than us. But for Portugal he means more than that. No colour, no clubs, no political sides. For Portuguese people Eusebio is Eusebio and for sure you will get some images over the next couple of days and I think you will understand what Eusebio means for our country. I have known him since a kid. He played with my father in the national team. Our birthdays were separated by one day. Every year when I was a kid he was sending me a shirt, a ball or a boot" (DAILY MAIL, 1/5).
