Pele pays tribute to Eusebio

Rio De Janeiro, Jan 6 Football legend Pele has paid tribute to his “brother” Eusebio, who died of a cardiac arrest Sunday aged 71.

Pele said he became friends with the Portugal great during the 1966 World Cup in England, Xinhua reported Monday.

“I regret the death of my brother Eusebio,” Pele wrote on Facebook. “Our last meeting was at the Brazil-Portugal friendly in Boston (in September). My condolences go to his family.”

Pele accompanied the message with a photograph alongside the prolific Mozambique-born striker.

Eusebio scored more than 700 competitive goals in his career and won the Ballon d’Or award in 1965.