Eusébio
Sporting Lourenço Marques 1959
Benfica 1971
Lisbon, Portugal
Benfica
Eusebio in action for Benfica against Arsenal in 1971
Eusebio and Pele New York Cosmos at Boston Minutemen, 1975
Monterrey 1975
Kickin’ it old school in 1976 with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Toronto Metros–Croatia. Players are Eusebio (10), Mark Lindsay (15), and Rodney Marsh (6).
Eusebio (Toronto Metros-Croatia), 1976
Beira-Mar
Eusebio, Las Vegas Quicksilvers, 1977
Eusebio, Las Vegas Quicksilvers, 1977
1978
Ballon d'Or,1965
European Golden Boot: 1973
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot
Portuguese exfootballer Eusebio da Silva Fereira receives the UEFA President's Award from UEFA's president Michel Platini
Monaco
Eusébio's Golden Foot in Monaco
FIFA Order of Merit
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
Portugal football legend Eusebio
Sporting Lourenço Marques 1959
Benfica 1971
Lisbon, Portugal
Benfica
Eusebio in action for Benfica against Arsenal in 1971
Eusebio and Pele New York Cosmos at Boston Minutemen, 1975
Monterrey 1975
Kickin’ it old school in 1976 with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Toronto Metros–Croatia. Players are Eusebio (10), Mark Lindsay (15), and Rodney Marsh (6).
Eusebio (Toronto Metros-Croatia), 1976
Beira-Mar
Eusebio, Las Vegas Quicksilvers, 1977
Eusebio, Las Vegas Quicksilvers, 1977
1978
Ballon d'Or,1965
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot
European Golden Boot: 1973
Portuguese exfootballer Eusebio da Silva Fereira receives the UEFA President's Award from UEFA's president Michel Platini
Monaco
Eusébio's Golden Foot in Monaco
FIFA Order of Merit
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
Eusébio and António Simões
Eusébio was born in the Mafalala neighborhood, Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), Portuguese Mozambique on 25 January 1942. His parents were Laurindo António da Silva Ferreira, a black railroad worker from Malanje, Angola, and Elisa Anissabeni, a black Mozambican woman. His father died from tetanus when Eusébio was eight years old, so Elisa almost exclusively took the parental care of young Eusébio.
Eusébio made his debut for Benfica as a 19-year-old in 1961. Despite his youth, he overwhelmed opponents with his speed, elusive moves and powerful shots on goal. Although Mozambique was a Portuguese colony, few Europeans had witnessed an African player of such startling talent, and he was nicknamed "Pantera Negra" (Black Panther) and "Perla Negra" (Black Pearl) by admiring fans.
Eusébio scored twice in Benfica's European Cup victory over Real Madrid in 1962, and he won the Ballon d'Or as the European Football Player of the Year in 1965. However, he is perhaps best remembered for his performance during the 1966 World Cup in England. After scoring twice to knock out defending champion Brazil, he netted an incredible four goals to help Portugal overcome a 3-0 deficit to North Korea in the quarterfinals. Eusébio scored once as Portugal came up short against eventual champion England, and again in the consolation victory over the Soviet Union. Although he was unable to lift his side to the ultimate victory, Eusébio made a lasting impression with his tournament-leading nine goals.
Eusébio won the Golden Boot as Europe's top scorer in 1968 and 1973, and helped Benfica win 11 Primeira Liga titles before ending his run with the club in 1975. The iconic athlete spent most of the remainder of his career in North America, notably leading Toronto Metros-Croatia to victory in the 1976 Soccer Bowl, before retiring in 1979.
Eusébio was hospitalized with pneumonia in December 2011 and suffered several health setbacks in the following months, but he was healthy enough to join Benfica for its trip to the 2013 UEFA Europa League final in the Netherlands.
On January 5, 2014, the soccer legend died of heart failure at his Lisbon home. He was 71 years old.
Eusébio was a devout Roman Catholic.
Quotations:
"Pele played in an era which had so many great players and in that atmosphere he stood out above the others. He was the complete player in every aspect as well as being a kind human being. Cristiano Ronaldo is young yet, and has many years ahead of himself. But as of now, I do not see anyone who can compare with Pele."
"There's Pele the man, and then Pele the player. And to play like Pele is to play like God."
"In Scotland, I have to say I'm more fond of Glasgow Rangers - not celtc - and there is a great player who played for them, who is still alive today, Willie Henderson. I met up with him recently when Benfica played celtc again."
Physical Characteristics: His height is 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in).
Quotes from others about the person
Former Benfica and Portugal teammate and friend António Simões acknowledges his influence on Benfica and said: "With Eusébio maybe we could be European Champions, without him maybe we could win the league".
Eusébio married Flora Claudina Burheim in 1965.
He is a politician who served as the second President of Mozambique, from 1986 to 2005.
He is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a left winger.
