Skip to main content

Portugal legend Eusebio to be buried

The funeral of football legend Eusebio is to take place in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, after his death at 71.

 Mourners will pay their respects as Eusebio's coffin is carried around the Luz stadium, before a Mass and burial.

Portugal has declared three days of national mourning for the footballer, who died on Sunday from a heart attack. Born in Mozambique when it was still a Portuguese colony, Eusebio da Silva Ferreira went on to play 64 times for Portugal, scoring 41 goals.

The Benfica striker was top scorer at the 1966 World Cup in England, with nine goals, including four against North Korea. Widely considered one of the best players of all time, he scored 733 times in 745 professional matches.

United by pride

He had been admitted to hospital several times over the past year for the treatment of heart and respiratory problems. Luminaries from the world of football and beyond paid tribute to the player known in his day as the Black Panther.

Football has lost a legend," Fifa President Sepp Blatter wrote on Twitter. Portugal's President Anibal Cavaco Silva said: "Portugal has today lost one of its most beloved sons, Eusebio da Silva Ferreira. The country mourns his death.

The former president of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, said: "I have lost a friend... Portuguese football has lost one of its greatest idols. Football brought Mozambique and Portugal together, and everyone in Mozambique is proud of Eusebio."

Fans draped flags and football scarves at the statue of Eusebio that stands outside the Luz stadium - or Stadium of Light - in Lisbon on Sunday evening and again on Monday.

The stadium, opened in 2003, replaced the 120,000-seat Stadium of Light where Eusebio dazzled for Benfica, helping them to numerous honours. Eusebio's casket was due to be taken on a funeral procession around Lisbon before a funeral service late on Monday afternoon.

"For me, he is simply the creator of football," said 24-year-old fan Luis Marques. One banner left by the Eusebio statue read: "I haven't come to say goodbye, but to say thank you."

Glittering record

Famed for his blistering acceleration and dribbling skills, Eusebio was named European Footballer of the Year in 1965. He won the European Cup with Benfica in 1962 and was in the side that lost to Manchester United in the 1968 Wembley final. The Portuguese manager of Chelsea, Jose Mourinho said: "Eusebio is one of the greatest footballers in the history of football. He's at this level - Eusebio, Charlton, Pele.

"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."

Eusebio's goals in the 1966 World Cup helped his country to third place, after they were beaten by eventual winners England in the semi-finals. Portugal won all their group games as title holders Brazil were eliminated in the first round, and Eusebio starred in a dramatic 5-3 win over North Korea in the quarter-finals, with his four goals helping his side come back from 3-0 down.

Portugal went on to lose 2-1 in the last four to England, with Eusebio in tears as he left the pitch at the end of the game. Married with two daughters, in retirement he became an ambassador for Benfica and Portugal.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mario Balotelli: AC Milan reject claims the striker is about to leave

AC Milan have released a statement to deny speculation that Italy striker Mario Balotelli could leave in January. They were responding to reports in Italy that Milan president Silvio Berlusconi had decided to sell him. "AC Milan firmly and absolutely deny statements that have been attributed to the chairman about Mario Balotelli being put on the transfer list," the Serie A club's statement  said . The ex-Man City striker has scored six goals in 12 league games this season. He moved to the San Siro in January for an initial fee of 22m euros (£19m). Last season he racked up 12 goals for the seven-time European champions in only 13 Serie A appearances.

Al-Jazeera demands Egypt release four journalists

  Qatar-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera has demanded the release of four of its journalists seized by Egyptian police in Cairo at the weekend. They include its Cairo bureau chief Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and former BBC correspondent Peter Greste. The journalists had held illegal meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood, the interior ministry said. Al-Jazeera said it had been "subject to harassment" although not officially banned from working in Egypt. There has been a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood since the army ousted President Mohammed Morsi in July. Last week it was declared a terrorist group. In the past six months, more than 1,000 pro-Morsi protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces, and thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been arrested, including the majority of its leadership. A court will hear a case to disband the Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), on 15 February. 'Arbitrary' The four journ...

Justin Bieber all over Selena Gomez at party

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were all over each other at a friend's birthday party. The 'Baby' hitmaker rented out the Lucky Strike bowling alley in Los Angeles on Sunday night for their pal Ryan Butler's intimate celebration, and couldn't keep his hands off the 'Come & Get It' singer at the party. A source told E! News: ''Justin rented out Lucky Strike's Luxe room for the celebration. Additionally, he was seen kissing and flirting with his on-and-off again girlfriend, Selena Gomez.'' The insider added: ''The group, of about 12 people in all, enjoyed some of Lucky Strike's Esteban's Nacho's Grande, Cheeseburgers and wings. Specifically, Justin was seen eating the Mac & Cheese bites.'' Ryan's girlfriend posted a photograph of Selena, 22, gazing at Justin, 20, on Instagram from the party. The Canadian star confirmed during a deposition last week that he has reunited with his on-again, off...