Take a look at the bronze statue standing before you. This honors Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, the Black Panther, whose explosive speed and thunderous right foot made him one of football's greatest legends. Born in Mozambique in 1942, Eusébio arrived at Benfica at age 18 and revolutionized Portuguese football.
Between 1960 and 1975, he scored an extraordinary 473 goals in 440 matches at this very stadium, the Estádio da Luz. Defenders feared his blistering pace and ferocious shots that seemed unstoppable. His crowning moment came in 1962 when he netted twice in the European Cup final against Real Madrid, delivering Benfica the trophy. In 1965, he won the Ballon d'Or as Europe's finest player. But the 1966 World Cup showcased his genius to the world.
He dragged Portugal to third place, scoring 9 goals to become the tournament's top scorer, including four in a single match against North Korea. When he died in 2014, the nation mourned for three days. Parliament voted unanimously to move his remains to the National Pantheon, making him the first footballer among the country's most distinguished figures. The avenue you're standing on now bears his name, Avenida Eusébio da Silva Ferreira.
Sources. Story: Source story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eus%C3%A9bio https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eusebio Photos: Source photo: By Eric Koch for Anefo - http://proxy.handle.net/10648/aa316bba-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67163693
