LISBON, Portugal -- A half century later, Eusebios goals are still a source of wonder in the country where he stood above all others in his sport. There was the European Cup final against Real Madrid in 1962, when he scored the last two goals to rally Benfica to a 5-3 victory and its second straight continental title. There was the 1966 World Cup quarterfinal against North Korea. With Portugal trailing 3-0, Eusebio inspired his team, striking for four goals that led to a 5-3 victory. Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, who was born into poverty in Africa and became one of the worlds top scorers during the 1960s, died Sunday at 71. He died at his Lisbon home of heart failure, his biographer, Jose Malheiro, said. Eusebio was admitted to the hospital several times over the past year for heart and respiratory problems. "A football genius and example of humility, an outstanding athlete and generous man, Eusebio was for all sports fans and for all Portuguese an example of professionalism, determination and devotion to the colours of the national jersey and of Benfica," Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho said in a statement. A bronze statue of Eusebio, poised to kick a ball, stands outside Benficas Stadium of Light, where fans began laying flowers after his death was announced. Eusebios coffin was to be taken to Benficas Stadium of Light so fans could pay respects. Known affectionately as the Black Panther for his athleticism and finishing touch, Eusebio was voted one of the 10 best players in soccer history. The Portuguese government declared three days of national mourning, with flags at half-staff. The Portuguese Football Federation ordered a minutes silence before Sundays Portuguese Cup games. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal captain who plays for Real Madrid, commented on his Facebook page, "Always eternal Eusebio, rest in peace." Former Portugal captain Luis Figo, the 2001 FIFA world player of the year, tweeted, "The king!! Great loss for us all! The greatest!!" "I prefer to look upon him as immortal," Chelseas Portuguese coach, Jose Mourinho, told public broadcaster Radiotelevisao Portuguesa. Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva made a nationally televised address to the nation to praise the "affability and humility" of a man who never let stardom go to his head. "His talent brought joy for entire generations, even those who didnt live through the most glorious moments of his career," Cavaco Silva said. Eusebios biggest accomplishment may have been his play in leading Portugal to third place at the 1966 World Cup. But his agility and speed made him one of Europes most dangerous forwards for most of a career that lasted two decades. He was awarded the Ballon dOr in 1965 as Europes player of the year and twice won the Golden Boot -- in 1968 and 1973 -- for being top scorer in Europe. According to soccers governing body, he had 679 goals in 678 official games. FIFA President Sepp Blatter tweeted, "Football has lost a legend. But Eusebios place among the greats will never be taken away." German great Franz Beckenbauer also took to Twitter: "One of the greatest football players ever has passed away." At the 1966 World Cup, where Portugal lost in the semifinals to host and eventual champion England, Eusebio became even more popular at home when he wept openly as he left the field following the defeat. He finished as the tournaments top scorer with nine goals. In 1998, a panel of 100 experts assembled by FIFA named him in its International Football Hall of Fame as one of the sports top 10 all-time greats. "Look, there are only two black people on the list: me and Pele," Eusebio said, referring to the Brazilian great who was a friend. "I regard that as a great responsibility because I am representing Africa and Portugal, my second homeland." He was a member of the 1976 Toronto Metros-Croatia team that won the NASL championship and scored the winning goal in the championship game. The team was inducted into the Canadian soccer hall of fame in 2010. Eusebio was born in Maputo, the Mozambican capital, during World War II when the southeast African country was still a Portuguese colony. He came from a poor family but sparkled for his local team and was lured by Benfica to Portugal when he was 18. His unpretentious and easy manner was complemented by his heart and skills. His popularity in Portugal was such that in 1964, when Italian clubs offered to buy Eusebio for sums that were astronomical for the time, the countrys then-dictator, Antonio Salazar, decreed the player a "national treasure" -- meaning he could not be sold abroad. Eusebio was a cornerstone of the Benfica team that won back-to-back European titles in the early 1960s. With Benfica, he won 11 Portuguese league titles and five Portuguese Cups. In the 1966 World Cup quarterfinal in Liverpool, Portugal got off to a dreadful start and was three goals down after 23 minutes. "We were taken completely by surprise," Eusebio told The Associated Press at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the Portuguese had a second meeting with the North Koreans 44 years after the first. "I remember very clearly what (teammate Antonio) Simoes said when we were 3-0 down. He kept saying, s long as we dont go four goals down, were still in with a chance," Eusebio said. "And he was right." Eusebio led Portugals astonishing comeback by repeatedly charging at the North Korean defence, scoring four goals in just more than 30 minutes. After his first two goals, he picked the ball out of the net, ran back to midfield and placed the ball on the centre spot for the restart. He completed his hat trick in the 56th minute, evening the score. His fourth goal came on a penalty kick as North Koreas defence collapsed amid the onslaught. "That was the best game of my life in a Portugal jersey," Eusebio said. "It left its mark on me." Eusebio scored 41 goals in 64 games for Portugal. After five knee operations, he played his last game for Benfica in 1975. Eusebio then moved to North America, where he spent the last years of his career playing for the Boston Minutemen, Toronto, Las Vegas Quicksilver and Buffalo Stallions through 1980. Eusebio stayed at Benfica as an assistant coach after his retirement and travelled widely with the Portuguese national team as a paid "soccer ambassador." 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Custom Edmonton Oilers Jerseys .J. -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is going to start the off-season training program with a surgically repaired left ankle.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Jeff Teague lost the ball and figured he was in trouble, with Detroits Brandon Jennings breezing in for what looked like an uncontested layup. "I knew Coach was going to show it on film, so I just had to make sure I get back and make an attempt," Teague said. "I was able to meet him at the rim." Teague caught up to Jennings, leaping from behind and blocking the layup at the last instant. Teague then threw an alley-oop to Al Horford at the other end for good measure, helping the Atlanta Hawks hold on for a 96-89 victory over the Pistons on Friday night. Teague scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter. Josh Smith, who signed a $54 million, four-year deal with Detroit in the off-season after nine years with the Hawks, was left out of the starting lineup for the first time this season. He went scoreless in 20 minutes. Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks said Smith didnt start because he missed practice Thursday. Detroit had games Tuesday and Wednesday, and Cheeks said he didnt inform players of Thursdays practice until the flight back after Wednesday nights loss at Atlanta. He said Smith wasnt on the plane. "Theres no NBA rule against having a practice after a back-to-back, but if we had won in Atlanta, I probably wouldnt have called one," Cheeks said. "I didnt tell them until late. We were already on the team plane." Smith didnt talk to reporters after Fridays game. The Pistons led 87-86 after a 6-0 run in the fourth, but DeMarre Carroll scored inside for Atlanta while being knocked to the floor. He missed the ensuing free throw, but the Hawks came up with the rebound and Horford eventually added a free throw to make it 89-87. Carroll added a 3-pointer to push the lead to five. Detroit trailed 92-89 when Jennings appeared to have a clean breakaway after stealing the ball from Teague. The 6-foot-2 Teague recovered and blocked Jennnings shot.dddddddddddd. Jennings had 14 assists, but he went 4 for 16 from the field and struggled to defend Teague in the third quarter. "Its no battle or nothing like that," Teague said. "I was trying to make a conscious effort of getting to the rim." Smith shot 0 for 7 from the field in his first scoreless game since December 2004, when he was a rookie. "As far as I can remember, Josh has always started the game. I know for him, hes dealing, his dad is not doing so well, and I think that could have been on his mind a little bit as well," Horford said. "Josh is a great player. Hes going to get it going. Hes going to be fine." Detroit was up 14-12 when Smith came in with 5:47 to go in the first quarter. Atlanta went on a 15-4 run and led by as many as 11 in the half. The Pistons caught a break in the final seconds of the second quarter when Kyle Singler was fouled shooting a 3-pointer. He made the first two free throws, and when he missed the third, Greg Monroe rebounded and made a layup. The four-point possession meant Detroit trailed only 49-44 at halftime. The Pistons took a 52-51 lead early in the third, but Teague started a 9-2 Atlanta run with a three-point play. Horford scored 17 points for the Hawks. Andre Drummond had 15 points and 16 rebounds for Detroit, and Singler added 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting. "I felt like I had a great game, but Im only worried about the team," Singler said. "Im very disappointed that we lost this one. We thought we would play Atlanta tough, and we did, but there were too many plays that we didnt make, and they got all the 50-50 balls." NOTES: Detroit was again without Chauncey Billups (knee tendinitis) and Will Bynum (left hamstring). ... 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