Czechoslovakia legend Masopust dies
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Legendary Czechoslovakia midfielder Josef Masopust, the 1962 Ballon d'Or winner, has died, aged 84, following a long illness.
Petr Prochazka from the Josef Masopust Friends Club said: "The knight of sport, Josef Masopust, died quietly in his flat, surrounded by his family."
Dubbed 'The Knight of Football' or 'Caballero' for his chivalrous manners on the pitch, Masopust was his country's playmaker as they made it to the 1962 FIFA World Cup Final™. He even opened the scoring in that match, but Brazil came back to win 3-1 and lift the Trophy. Masopust also played for the Czechoslovak team that won bronze at UEFA EURO 1960.
In total, Masopust made 63 international appearances and scored ten goals for Czechoslovakia team from 1954-66.
Brazilian icon Pele once said the Czech was "one of the greatest icons football has ever known. Without any doubt, he was one of the best players in Europe for me. He and [Franz] Beckenbauer."
Vaclav Masek, a striker on the 1962 team, told the website of the DNES broadsheet on Monday that Masopust was one of the best footballers he had played with.
"He had the skill, the pass, the shot, he knew how to get past a player and create scoring chances. He had great intelligence - on the pitch, he came up with things that require a genius."
"We played cards, had a beer, he was nice to talk to. A real friend."
Miroslav Pelta, head of the Czech Football Association, said Masopust was "a unique personality both on and off the pitch."