Sport
Eusebio – The Soccer legend dies at 71
Eusebio helped Benfica to 11 Portuguese championships and later served as an ‘ambassador’ for the club. He scored more than 300 league goals for the Lisbon outfit.
As news of Eusebio’s death spread, tributes began pouring in from the football family. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on his Twitter page: “football/Soccer has lost a legend but Eusebio’s place among the greats will never be taken away.”
Eusebio hailed from Lourenco Marques, now Maputo, in colonial Mozambique (eastern Africa) and as a teenage prodigy was expected to join Benfica’s great rivals Sporting Lisbon but changed his mind at the last minute.
Even though he played for Portugal, he was widely regarded as the best known African soccer player of all-time, until the emergence in more recent times of the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and Abedi Pele.
“He was one of the great figures of Portugal. I think he is immortal. We all know what he meant for soccer and especially for Portuguese soccer,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told Portugal’s state broadcaster RTP. “He was not only a great inspiration but also an important figure in upholding the values, principles and feelings of soccer, even after finishing his career,” the former Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid coach added.
Eusebio ended his career playing in the U.S. but returned to Portugal to various roles with Benfica and the Portuguese federation. He was referred to as the “O Rei” (the king) in his later years, enjoying widespread affection.
Among the first reactions to his death came from former Benfica and Portugal team mate Toni. “I told him when he was alive much of what I felt – that it was a privilege to have played with him. We have lost one of the greatest figures of Portuguese sport,” the former midfielder said in a statement.
