In over 150 years of history football has seen many astounding footballers. Some have transcended their ability to kick a ball around on some grass and occasionally kick it into fishing apparatus. Few can have had the long term impact of Eusebio, few can have done so as subtly.
On the face of it Eusebio was an explosive Portuguese goal machine. A player who fired his country to the never before seen heights of a World Cup semi final and led Benfica to four European Cup finals. Two of his seven hundred plus goals helping Benfica to victory in a 5-3 win over the might of Real Madrid in 1962. At the 1966 World Cup Eusebio was the top goalscorer with 9 strikes.
Yet these numbers and achievements do not sum up Eusebio’s contribution to football. He is the first African footballing superstar. He may have played for Portugal but he was born and bred in Mozambique. Eusabio was by no means the first African player to have an impact on the global game. Just Fontaine, scorer of a record 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup was born in Marrakesh. What made Eusebio special was that he was the first black African to make such impact.
As a young boy discovering football I lived in a bubble that thought football only existed in England. Then I discovered some videos about the World Cup and of course 1966. While I was absorbed by England’s victory it was Eusebio that made my jaw drop. The pace, the strength and ferocity of shot. Then I found out he was born in Africa. I knew about Brazilian football, I knew about Pele, but African footballers? From actual Africa? It opened my childish eyes. I am sure he opened the eyes of many others.
Eusebio showed what was possible. Looking at the 1966 World Cup, there was not a single African side present. Two tournaments later Zaire have qualified. In 1982 Cameroon qualified. By 1990 Cameroon are beating Argentina in the opening game and enthralling the world with their joyous football. Now the presence of black African sides is a given at each World Cup tournament. The top club sides in world football include or have included black African players. Eusebio paved the way for Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, George Weah and the rest to become global stars.
These players have not forgotten their roots. They have poured their earnings back into their homelands, paying for hospitals and schools to help those less fortunate. The link with football and footballers has provided some with hope where before it was in short supply. The path trodden by Eusebio helped to open a road.
Portuguese football may be mourning it’s king, but African football is mourning it’s father.