Prolific: Eusebio was top scorer at the 1966 World Cup.

Prolific: Eusebio was top scorer at the 1966 World Cup. Photo: Getty Images

Portuguese football legend Eusebio, who was the top scorer in the 1966 World Cup, died Sunday at the age of 71 years, his former club Benfica confirmed.

Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, the player known as the "Black Panther", died after suffering cardio-pulmonary arrest early on Sunday morning.

He had been hospitalised several times in recent years with various health problems and had suffered a stroke in June 2012.

Tributes left by fans near a statue of late Portuguese football player Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, also known as the 'Black Panther', outside the Luz stadium in Lisbon on Sunday. Eusebio died at the age of 71. Click for more photos

Portuguese soccer star Eusebio dead at 71

Tributes left by fans near a statue of late Portuguese football player Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, also known as the 'Black Panther', outside the Luz stadium in Lisbon on Sunday. Eusebio died at the age of 71. Photo: AFP

"Eusebio showed signs of fragility lately, but I didn't expect this at all," said Joao Malheiro, author of the player's biography "Eusebio - my story", who had spoken to him last week by phone to arrange a lunch.

The player's remains will be transferred during the day to the Luz stadium in Lisbon where Benfica fans can pay their final respects to their greatest star, public television station RTP reported.

The Portuguese government also decreed three days of national mourning, with flags in Lisbon to fly at half-mast. The Portuguese Football Federation said there would be a minute's silence ahead of Sunday's Portuguese Cup games, as tributes flowed in for the player.

Legend of the game: Portuguese footballer Eusebio.

Legend of the game: Portuguese footballer Eusebio. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

"Football has lost a legend," FIFA president Sepp Blatter wrote on Twitter. "But Eusebio's place among the greats will never be taken away."

"The king! Great loss for all of us! The greatest!" wrote former Portuguese international Luis Figo, who retired in 2009 with a national record of 127 caps, while current Portugal captain Ronaldo wrote: "Always eternal #Eusebio, rest in peace."

The Mozambique-born striker made his name at Benfica, winning 11 league titles and one European Cup during a 15-year spell there. He also won two Golden Boot awards as Europe's leading goalscorer.

Recruited aged 19 by the Lisbon club for his exceptional technical and physical qualities he helped the club win the 1962 European Cup against the Real Madrid of Argentine legend Alfredo Di Stefano.

"He was not only one of the greatest figures of football but also of Portugal. Eusebio is Portugal," Chelsea's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho told RTP.

"I grew up with Eusebio and Amalia Rodrigues (singer who died in 1999), ... as the great symbols of Portugal. They are simply immortal," he said.

"There are princes of football but Eusebio was in the gallery of kings," former Benfica coach Toni told TSF radio.

In addition to his 11 league titles, Eusebio won five Portuguese cups in his 15 years at Benfica and was Portugal's top league scorer between 1964 and 1973.

He scored 733 times in 745 professional matches.

Despite his scoring record, however, his only appearance at a World Cup finals was in 1966 in England.

"I was the best player in the world, top scorer in the world and Europe. I did everything, except win a World Cup," Eusebio said in a interview in 2011, recalling his tears after Portugal's loss in the 1966 World Cup semi-final to England.

He helped Portugal however take third place in the tournament, where he was top scorer with nine goals. In total he scored 41 goals in 64 appearances for Portugal.

Former players paid tribute to Eusebio, including Alex Stepney, the former Manchester United goalkeeper, who famously saved a late shot from Eusebio during the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley.

"I made the save and out of the corner of my eye I saw him still standing in front of me. It was only afterwards that I saw what he had done. The fact he was standing there clapping before running away is a mark of the man," Stepney said.

"I was lucky enough to meet him a few times since that 1968 European Cup final and he was the perfect gentleman."

Spanish club Real Madrid said in a statement: "Real Madrid are sad to learn about Eusebio's death, one of the greatest players of all time.

"The club would like to send its condolences to his family, friends, Benfica and Portuguese football in general."

Reaction to Eusebio's death

Sepp Blatter (FIFA president) on Twitter:

"Football has lost a legend. But Eusebio's place among the greats will never be taken away

"Eusebio was a football & FIFA ambassador. He'll be sorely missed. Rest in peace Black Panther."

Luis Figo (former Portuguese international, who retired in 2009 with a national record of 127 caps):

"The king! Great loss for all of us! The greatest!

"His death is a great loss ... for everything he represented globally. He was close to national players, always ready to help and offer words of comfort. He leaves behind a great void."

Statement from Eusebio's former club Benfica:

"We will remember his talent, his example, his character which marked Portuguese football and which established him as a global benchmark for football. Eusebio's life is the heritage of all those who love football. Benfica was his home port ... He made Benfica more than a club, he made it his home and his family. The memory and legacy of Eusebio will remain among us."

Franz Beckenbauer (former Germany and Bayern Munich player) on Twitter:

"One of the greatest football players ever has passed away. My friend Eusebio died last night. My thoughts are with his family."

Jose Durao Barroso (Portugal's European Commission president):

"It's a sad day for Portuguese football. I offer my sincere condolences to Eusebio's family and all Portuguese people."

Armando Gebuza (Mozambique President)

"He's a figure who has contributed to the deep and rich history of Mozambique. Eusebio came here from time to time. He always maintained a link with Mozambique. He's a very well known and respected figure in our country."

Antonio Simoes (Eusebio's former Portuguese international teammate):

"Eusebio showed an extraordinary inner strength (...). I felt that he was not well recently, but I didn't want to broach the subject with him. He had extraordinary stories which he lived through and which he loved to tell "

Pedro Passos Coelho (Portuguese Prime Minister):

"He was a football genius, an example of humility, an excellent athlete, a generous and supportive man. He was for all the fans an example of professionalism, determination and dedication."

Ronaldo (Portugal captain) wrote on Twitter:

"Always eternal #Eusebio, rest in peace."

Jose Mourinho (Chelsea's Portuguese coach):

"He was one of the great figures of Portugal, a nobleman of our country. I think he is immortal. He was an important reference in his vision of football, his values, principles, and emotions and that even after the end of his career. If we try to compare with modern day football Eusebio would be on the level of the best. If he were 20 or 30 years old today, he would have had an unbelievable level."

Greg Dyke Football Association chairman:

"Every generation has great footballers. He was clearly a world-class footballer who scored an awful lot of goals. He had a level of natural talent that most players don't have. He was the (Lionel Messi) or Ronaldo of his time."

AFP