Legendary Portuguese Football Player Eusebio Dead at 71
Portuguese soccer player Eusebio holds a soccer ball and poses in front of his statue at the entrance of the Luz Stadium in Lisbon in this July 3, 2004 file photo. Portuguese great Eusebio, European Footballer of the Year in 1965 and top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, died on January 5, 2014, from a heart attack at the age of 71 with the small Iberian nation mourning him as an "eternal symbol" of their football pride. REUTERS/Stringer/Files
Portuguese soccer player Eusebio holds a soccer ball and poses in front of his statue at the entrance of the Luz Stadium in Lisbon in this July 3, 2004 file photo. Portuguese great Eusebio, European Footballer of the Year in 1965 and top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, died on January 5, 2014, from a heart attack at the age of 71 with the small Iberian nation mourning him as an "eternal symbol" of their football pride. REUTERS/Stringer/Files

Legendary Portuguese football player Eusebio has died on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014 at 71 years old after suffering from cardio-pulmonary arrest. Eusebio has been hospitalised before due to numerous health problems including a stroke on June 2012. He died in Lisbon, Portugal. Eusebio would have been 72 years old on Jan. 25, 2014.

Joao Malheiro, the author of "Eusebio - my story," spoke to Eusebio on the phone a week before his death to arrange for a lunch meeting. Sadly, he wasn't able to meet the esteemed football player anymore.

"Eusebio showed signs of fragility lately, but I didn't expect this at all," said Malheiro in a Sydney Morning Herald report.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the public television station RTP has reported that the remains of the legendary football player will be transferred to the Luz stadium in Lisbon.

The coffin of Eusebio is carried into Luz stadium in Lisbon January 5, 2014. Portuguese great Eusebio, top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, died on Sunday from a heart attack at the age of 71 with the small Iberian nation mourning him as an "eternal symbol" of their football pride. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

The Portuguese government reportedly decreed three days of national mourning, with flags in Lisbon to fly at half-mast. And, a minute of silence will be offered in honor of Eusebio at the Portuguese Cup games.

A man puts a Benfica scarf on the Eusebio monument at Luz stadium in Lisbon January 5, 2014. Portuguese great Eusebio, top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, died on Sunday from a heart attack at the age of 71 with the small Iberian nation mourning him as an "eternal symbol" of their football pride. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Eusebio, whose full name is Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, was born in Lourenço Marques, Portuguese East Africa on Jan. 25, 1942. He was a famous football player. Eusebio scored a total of 733 goals in 745 matches throughout his professional football career as a football forward. He was also the top scorer in the 1966 World Cup. Because of his accomplishments and his exceptional football skills, he is considered as one the greatest football players of all time.

Eusebio was also known by the nickname "Black Panther." Like the animal, he's very fast on the football field.

He played for several football teams. From 1957-1960, he was part of the Sporting de Lourenço Marques. From 1960-1975, he was in the Benfica team. In 1975, he was with Boston Minutemen and Monterrey. From 1975-1976, Eusebio played for the Toronto Metros-Croatia. Then, in 1976, he was part of Beira-Mar. From 1976-1977, he was in the Las Vegas Quicksilvers. From 1977-1978, he chose to be part of the União de Tomar. And, from 1978-1979, he played for the New Jersey Americans.

He was also part of the national team of Portugal from 1961-1973.

Now that legendary Portuguese football player Eusebio has died at the age of 71 years old, a lot of his fans, friends and colleagues are deeply saddened by his demise. They tweeted about Eusebio's death and their loss. Check out some of their tweets below.

Always eternal #Eusebio, rest in peace pic.twitter.com/n25X0q9rfF

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) January 5, 2014

Eusebio was a football & FIFA ambassador. He’ll be sorely missed. Rest in peace Black Panther. http://t.co/NBaldFohkv pic.twitter.com/ejC1W0QgLB — Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) January 5, 2014

This star to take him now to play and fill the sky goals and joys. rest in peace friend #Eusebio pic.twitter.com/FboyEBDs9r

— George Weah (@weah_official) January 6, 2014

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