Fifa.com
He arrived amid strict secrecy in Lisbon as an 18-year-old in 1960, hidden in an Algarve hotel for two weeks under the name Ruth Malosso.
He arrived in Manchester in 1966 as a 24-year-old amid consequential fanfare, a seemingly mythical power who could run the 100 metres in under 11 seconds and unleash dynamite from his right boot.
The sport had waited with bated breathe to catch a glimpse of Eusebio on its biggest platform. Now, after he finished as the leading marksmen in European qualifying for England 1966, to inspire Portugal to their first FIFA World Cup, that wish would be granted.
The Iberians were dealt ill fortune at the official draw for the tournament at the Royal Garden Hotel in London, being grouped with a Brazil side chasing a third consecutive crown, a formidable Hungary squad headlined by Florian Albert and Ferenc Bene and Bulgaria, who had beaten Paul Van Himst and Belgium to qualify. Eusebio then self-inflicted further misfortune on himself.
“Before the tournament, we had to draw our squad numbers out,” winger Antonio Simoes recalled to FIFA. “No11 was my number, always. But Eusebio got No11 in the draw, and I got No13. This number is – of course – very unlucky. I said to Eusebio, ‘If you play with the No13 in the World Cup, you’ll be the top scorer, and nobody will ever think again that it’s bad luck. For a whole country, you could demystify the No13 forever.’”
And that he did. Eusebio was on target against Bulgaria and netted a brace against Brazil as Portugal powered into knockout phase as Group 3 winners. Then, when they trailed 3-0 to Korea DPR in the quarter-finals, he heroically hit four goals to inspire a 5-3 success. Eusebio scored again in the semis, though it was insufficient to prevent a 2-1 loss to hosts England, before sealing an extraordinary individual campaign by helping his country to bronze against Soviet Union.
Six appearances, nine goals – three clear of his closest challenger for the Golden Boot. Eusebio would never play in the World Cup again, but he walked away having left an indelible mark on it.
“He was one of the greatest players that will ever live,” said Pele. “A player like Eusebio comes along every 50 years.”
