Eusebio: Best was fabulous

Portuguese legend Eusebio revealed he had lost a “great old friend” following the death of George Best.

Eusebio, perhaps Best’s most famous international adversary during his heyday in the 1960s, played opposite the Manchester United ace in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley.

Best’s superb solo goal in extra-time of the final helped United win a first European Cup for an English club and denied Eusebio’s club Benfica a third triumph in the competition.

By coincidence United’s next Champions League match will be at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz where there stands a statue of Eusebio, who today told PA Sport that football had lost one of its greatest players.

“The world football has lost a great,” said Eusebio, who is now 63. “Personally, I’ve lost a great old friend. I feel sorry for his family.

“At a moment like this we can remember how important this man was for British and world football.

"He was fabulous.”

Eusebio still has vibrant memories of his side’s Wembley defeat in what was arguably Best’s career highlight.

“George Best was a fabulous player in that group of players at Wembley,” he added.

“At a moment like this there are no words enough to define the man.”