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Portugal and Benfica legend Eusébio becomes the first footballer to be honoured with interment at the National Pantheon in Lisbon. The 1962 European Cup winner died of a heart attack in January 2014 at the age of 71.

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Portugal and Benfica legend Eusébio has become the first footballer to be honoured with interment at the National Pantheon in Lisbon.

The 1962 European Cup winner died of a heart attack in January 2014 at the age of 71.

Eusébio's coffin was laid to rest in the 17th-century church alongside key figures from Portugal's past after unanimous approval by parliament in February. 

A two-hour cortege took the coffin, draped in the Portuguese flag, around the capital before a formal ceremony with the country's president Anibal Cavaco Silva:

"Eusebio da Silva Ferreira is a champion of sport, a football legend admired all over the world," president Silva said. "Portugal pays tribute to a man who, with his natural talent and hard work, gave such joy to all of the Portuguese people."

The Mozambique-born forward was the world's first black African football star and his slippery 'cat-like' dribbles led to being nicknamed The Black Panther.

A rare blend of power and poise, Eusébio netted nine times for his adopted country at the 1966 World Cup to win the Golden Boot.

This Eagles fan said it was the striker's 'humbleness' that made him so special and that he is 'irreplaceable', while another described Eusébio as 'the immortal king'.

After 15 years of service to Benfica and having scored 679 goals in 678 official games, it's without doubt that as far as football fans across the globe are concerned, the Black Panther has left a paw print on all of their hearts.