Fans applaud Eusebio's coffin on Benfica's pitch

Thousands of fans have applauded the coffin of Portuguese football legend Eusebio as it lay on the centre spot at Benfica's Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.

The footballing world has taken to Twitter to remember Portugal football great Eusebio who died in the early hours of this morning, aged 71.

A spokesman for Benfica has said the death of Portugal football legend Eusebio is a "very sad day for us all".

The club were unable to confirm details of Eusebio's death, but reports in Portugal say he died of a heart attack in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He had been in poor health for some time and was taken to hospital during Euro 2012 after suffering a heart scare in Poland.

Benfica fans will now be offered the chance to pay their final respects to the player at the Estadio da Luz later on Sunday.

"Eusebio's body will be brought to the stadium later today and all fans will be able to say goodbye," the spokesman said.

Eusebio was a torment to defenders because of his speed and technique, and scored an astonishing 317 goals in 301 appearances for Benfica, where he was a player between 1960 and 1975.

Footballers have been paying tribute to Portugal football great Eusebio on Twitter, following his death at the age of 71.

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has paid tribute on Twitter to Esuebio, posting a photograph of the pair together.

The 71-year-old is reported to have died following a cardiac arrest.

Portugual football great Eusebio, acknowledged as one of soccer's greatest ever strikers, has died aged 71.

The 'Black Panther', whose full name was Esuebio da Silva Ferreira was born in Mozambique but made his name as a fearsome striker for Portugal at the 1966 World Cup in England, where he top-scored with nine goals to help his team finish third.

He won the European Cup with Benfica in 1962 and was named European Footballer of the Year in 1965.

The Portuguese sports daily A'Bola said Eusebio had died of a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Portugal football great Eusebio da Silva Ferreira has died, aged 71, according to Reuters.