Eusebio in hospital

Lisbon - Portuguese football legend Eusebio has been hospitalised with pneumonia, his former club Benfica announced on Wednesday.

The 69-year-old Mozambique-born superstar - who won the Ballon d'Or in 1965 and inspired Portugal to third place in the 1966 World Cup - was taken to hospital on Monday.

"Eusebio was admitted to hospital 48 hours ago suffering from symptoms compatible with a serious respiratory infection," said Jose Roquette, the director of the hospital.

"X-rays have confirmed the diagnosis as pneumonia and he has been placed under surveillance in the intensive care unit.

"He is stable, conscious and in good humour."

Eusebio - nicknamed the 'Black Panther' - was signed aged 19 by Benfica, and they went on to win the 1962 European Cup while he also scored 41 goals in 64 international appearances.