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Eusébio, the great Portugal and Benfica striker, has died at the age of 71.
Nicknamed the Black Panther, Eusébio was regarded as one of the best players of all time and helped Portugal to third place at the 1966 World Cup, finishing as top scorer in the tournament with nine goals.
The Mozambique-born striker made his name at club level with Benfica, winning 11 league titles during a 15-year spell in Lisbon, as well as two Golden Boot awards as Europe's leading goalscorer.
Eusébio poses for a cameraman during the 1966 World Cup
He also notched 41 goals in 64 appearances for Portugal.
Benfica were unable to confirm details of Eusébio's death but reports in Portugal say he died of a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He had been in poor health for some time and was hospitalised during Euro 2012 after suffering a heart scare in Poland.
Benfica fans will now be offered the chance to pay their final respects to the player at the Estadio da Luz later on Sunday.
Eusébio
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Quarter Final - Portugal v North Korea - Goodison Park(01 of39)
Portugal's Eusebio gives an impromptu pitchside interview after emerging from the tunnel (credit:PA)
Portuguese forward Eusebio (L) and German forward(02 of39)
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 20: Portuguese forward Eusebio (L) and German forward Gerd Mueller pose for photographers during an awards ceremony 20 October 1973 in Paris after receiving respectively the golden and silver shoes for being the best goal scorers in Europe. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STAFF/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Portuguese forward Eusebio (L) celebrates after sc(03 of39)
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 16: Portuguese forward Eusebio (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the World Cup first round soccer match against Bulgaria 17 July 1966 in Manchester. Portugal won 3-0. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STAFF/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Portuguese forward Eusebio (L) greets Belgian forw(04 of39)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - MARCH 26: Portuguese forward Eusebio (L) greets Belgian forward Paul Van Himst 26 March 1975 in Brussels. The two will play a friendly soccer match with the World All Star selection. (Photo credit should read STAFF/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Portrait of Portuguese forward Eusebio taken 16 Ma(05 of39)
LISBON, PORTUGAL - MARCH 16: Portrait of Portuguese forward Eusebio taken 16 March 1963 in Lisbon after the European Cup match between Benfica (Por) and Dukla Prague (Tch). Eusebio was the best goal scorer in the 1966 World Cup in England. (Photo credit should read STAFF/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - Eusebio Filer(06 of39)
File photo dated 19/07/1966 of Portugal's Eusebio (left) beating Brazil's Orlando (second left) in the air to head his team's second goal past Brazil goalkeeper Manga (right) during the World Cup England 1966 match at Goodison Park, Liverpool. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Eusebio Filer(07 of39)
File photo dated 26/07/1966 of Portugal's Eusebio being consoled by a compatriot as he leaves the field in tears after Portugal had been defeated 1-2 by England in the 1966 World Cup semi-final at Wembley, London. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Eusebio Filer(08 of39)
File photo dated 23/07/1966 of Portugal's Eusebio scoring against North Korea at during the 1966 World Cup Quarter Final match at Goodison Park, Liverpool. (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Semi Final - Portugal v England - Wembley Stadium(09 of39)
(L-R) England goalkeeper Gordon Banks gathers the ball safely, watched by teammates Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles, and Portugal's Mario Coluna and Eusebio (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Semi Final - Portugal v England(10 of39)
England goalkeeper Gordon Banks (second l) punches clear as Portugal's Eusebio (fourth r) comes flying in, watched by England's Bobby Charlton (l), George Cohen (fourth l), Martin Peters (third r) and Jack Charlton (second r) and Portugal's Jose Torres (r) and Mario Coluna (third l) (credit:PA)
Soccer - European footballer of the year 1962(11 of39)
Brazilian striker Eusebio congratulates Josef Masopust on obtaining The Golden Ball for the best European footballer of 1962. (CTK Photo/Karel Mevald) (credit:PA)
Soccer - European Cup - Final - Manchester United v Benfica - Benfica Training(12 of39)
Eusebio, Benfica (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Group Three - Portugal v Brazil(13 of39)
Referee George McCabe looks on as Brazil's Pele receives treatment. Portugal's Eusebio looks on (left). Pele was the subjected to harse tackles in this match and the match against Hungary (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup Qualifier - Group Six - Northern Ireland v Portugal - Highfield Road, Coventry(14 of39)
Eusebio in action for Portugal against Northern Ireland at Coventry City's Highfield Road Stadium. The game was moved from Northern Ireland due to The Troubles. (credit:PA)
Soccer - European Cup - Final - Benfica v AC Milan(15 of39)
Benfica's Eusebio fires in a shot as AC Milan's Cesare Maldini (half hidden) challenges him (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup Qualifier - Group Six - Northern Ireland v Portugal - Highfield Road, Coventry(16 of39)
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pat Jennings dives the wrong way as Portugal's Eusebio equalises five minutes from time from the penalty spot. (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup Qualifier - Group Six - Northern Ireland v Portugal - Highfield Road, Coventry(17 of39)
Portugal Captain Eusebio on the pitch with a pennant prior to kick off against Northern Ireland at Coventry City's Highfield Road Stadium. The game was moved from Northern Ireland due to The Troubles. The game finishes 1-1 with goals from Martin O'Neill and Eusebio. (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup Qualifier - Group Six - Northern Ireland v Portugal - Highfield Road, Coventry(18 of39)
Eusebio in action for Portugal against Northern Ireland at Coventry City's Highfield Road Stadium. The game was moved from Northern Ireland due to The Troubles. The game finishes 1-1 with goals from Martin O'Neill and Eusebio. (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup Qualifier - Group Six - Northern Ireland v Portugal - Highfield Road, Coventry(19 of39)
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pat Jennings dives the wrong way as Portugal's Eusebio equalises five minutes from time from the penalty spot. (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup Qualifier - Group Six - Northern Ireland v Portugal - Highfield Road, Coventry(20 of39)
PORTUGAL TEAM GROUP EUSEBIO HOLDING PENNANT (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Quarter Final - Portugal v North Korea - Goodison Park(21 of39)
Portugal's Eusebio acknowledges the cheers of the crowd after his four goals propelled Portugal to a place in the semi-finals (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Quarter Final - Portugal v North Korea - Goodison Park(22 of39)
Eusebio, Portugal (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Quarter Final - Portugal v North Korea - Goodison Park(23 of39)
Portugal's Eusebio (right, in dark shirt) scores Portugal's fourth goal, beating North Korea's goalkeeper Li Chan Myung. (credit:PA)
Soccer - European Cup - Semi Final Second Leg - Tottenham Hotspur v Benfica - Benfica Training(24 of39)
Benfica's Eusebio juggles a ball during training at the White City (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Semi Final - Portugal v England - Wembley Stadium(25 of39)
Portugal's Jose Torres (r) consoles teammate Eusebio (c) after their 2-1 defeat (credit:PA)
Soccer - FIFA World Cup England 66 - Final - England v West Germany - Wembley Stadium(26 of39)
Bobby Moore, of England's World Cup winning football team, and his wife Tina Moore raise their glasses in a toast to the great Eusebio of Portugal, the competition's top goal scorer with nine goals, at the Royal Garden Hotel. (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Portugal Training(27 of39)
Portugal's Eusebio (c) is given a police escort to the team's coach at the end of training (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 66 - Third Place Play Off - Portugal v USSR(28 of39)
Portugal's Eusebio (l) chats with USSR goalkeeper Lev Yashin (r) before the match (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 66 - Third Place Play Off - Portugal v USSR(29 of39)
Portugal's Eusebio (l) chats with USSR goalkeeper Lev Yashin (r) before the match (credit:PA)
Soccer - Eusebio Testimonial - Benfica v Manchester United - Stadium of Light(30 of39)
Eric Cantona (l), making his debut for Manchester United, smiles as Eusebio (r) is introduced to the United team before the match (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup England 1966 - Semi Final - Portugal v England - Wembley Stadium(31 of39)
Portugal's Eusebio (r) sends England goalkeeper Gordon Banks (l) the wrong way from the penalty spot to score his team's only goal of the match (credit:PA)
Soccer - European Cup - Final - Manchester United v Benfica - Wembley Stadium(32 of39)
(L-R) Manchester United's David Sadler arrives too late to prevent Benfica's Eusebio firing a shot at goal (credit:PA)
Soccer - European Cup - Final - Manchester United v Benfica - Wembley Stadium(33 of39)
Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney (second r) comes out to collect the ball as teammate David Sadler (third l) holds off Benfica's Eusebio (third r), watched by United's Nobby Stiles (r) and Bill Foulkes (second l), and Benfica's Jose Torres (l) (credit:PA)
Soccer - European Cup - Final - Manchester United v Benfica - Wembley Stadium(34 of39)
Benfica's Eusebio (r) celebrates after teammate Jaime Graca (l) scored the equalizing goal past Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney (second r) (credit:PA)
Manchester v Benfica(35 of39)
Benfica player Eusebio Ferreira da Silva lining up to take a free kick in the European Cup Final against Manchester United at Wembley. (credit:PA)
Eusebio(36 of39)
FILE - In this Sept. 16, 1968 file photo, Portugal's soccer star Eusebio kisses the golden boot he was awarded for being top scorer in Europe, in Paris. 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 of heart failure aged 71, Sunday Jan. 5, 2014. (AP Photo, File) (credit:AP)
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FILE - In this April 27, 1963 file photo, Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pele, left, enjoys a chat with Eusebio da Silva Ferreira in Lisbon, Portugal. 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 of heart failure aged 71, Sunday, Jan. 5 2014. (AP Photo, File) (credit:AP)
(38 of39)
FILE - In this July 29, 1966, file photo, Portugal's Eusebio, in light shirt, forces his way past two defenders only to see his shot saved by Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin during the Football World Cup third and fourth play-offs, at Wembley Stadium, London. Portuguese media reports say former football star Eusebio has been hospitalized with a serious illness. Broadcaster S.I.C. Noticias and sports paper Record said the 69-year-old former Benfica and Portugal great was taken into intensive care at a Lisbon hospital Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, with suspected pneumonia. (AP Photo/Bippa, File) (credit:AP)
Eusebio(39 of39)
May 2000: Portrait of Eusebio taken during a Portuguese sport photocall in Lisbon, Portugal. Picture by Nuno Correia. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
"Eusébio's body will be brought to the stadium later today and all fans will be able to say goodbye," a Benfica spokesman said.
Eusébio was a torment to defenders because of his speed and technique, and scored an astonishing 317 goals in 301 appearances for Benfica, where he was a player between 1960 and 1975.