Eusebio's
stellar football career for club and country included several
sensational performances which are still remembered half a century
later.
In
an epic European Cup final against Real Madrid in 1962, when a
first-half hat trick by Ferenc Puskas looked enough to secure the
trophy for the Spanish club, Eusebio scored the last two goals as
Benfica fought back to win 5-3 and clinch its second straight
continental title.
But
none of Eusebio's goals were more famous than those he scored 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.
Eusebio
da Silva Ferreira, who died Sunday aged 71, 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.
Eusebio
died at his Lisbon home of heart failure at 3.30 a.m. local time
(0330 GMT) Sunday, his biographer Jose Malheiro said. "His
health was very poor," Malheiro told reporters.
Eusebio was
admitted to hospital several times over the past year for the
treatment of heart and respiratory problems. Benfica confirmed his
death.
Born
into poverty in Africa, Eusebio became an international sporting icon
and was voted one of the 10 best players of all time. For the
Portuguese, he was a national hero.
Source:
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