Figo in a class of his own, says Eusebio

Real Madrid striker Luis Figo moved a step closer to Eusebio's record goal tally for Portugal with his side's fifth in victory over Estonia on Saturday.

Figo sent an exquisite chip over the heads of three defenders and Estonian keeper Martin Kaalma which grazed the bar before dropping into the net to the delight of an 82,000 crowd at the Stadium of Light.

A statue of the former Benfica legend Eusebio stands outside the stadium and conversation soon turned to which should lay claim to the title of Portugal's greatest player.

Eusebio has scored more goals than any other player to wear the Portugal shirt, notching 41goals in 64 games between 1961 and 1973, but Figo is fast closing in, taking his tally to 26 in 78 games with his late strike against Estonia.

With Figo fast closing on the record, Eusebio wished him luck, but asked not to be compared with the former Sporting Lisbon player.

"I was a unique player in my day in Portugal," Eusebio said. "I scored a lot of goals from lots of places and I wasn't a fixed striker.

"I hope someone beats my records one day. They exist in order to be beaten. But Eusebio is over. It's no use comparing Eusebio with Figo as they keep trying to do.

"Each to his own. I have every respect for him, he's a fantastic player, one of the best in the world, but he has nothing to do with me. I'm from a different time and we have different styles, we play in different positions."

Victory on Saturday ensured Portugal's passage to the 2002 World Cup finals and Antonio Oliveira's side will travel as one of the tournament favourites, but Eusebio insisted that there was little point in comparing that team to the one he helped reach the semi-finals in 1966.

"You can't compare the current team with the one in which I played. Times are different, football is different. How can you compare a player from my time with a current player?

"Apart from being from different eras, there are questions of tactics and positioning of the players on the pitch. Pele is Pele, Bobby Charlton is Bobby Charlton, Beckenbauer is Beckenbauer, and so on.

"Nowadays Zidane is the best player in the world and you can't compare him with Figo who plays on the right. At the most, Figo could be compared with Beckham, although they have different styles."