Hungary soccer legend Puskas dies, aged 79

Hungarian soccer legend Ferenc Puskas died in hospital on Friday, following a long illness, national news agency MTI said. He was aged 79.

Puskas, dubbed "The Galloping Major", was one of soccer's all-time greats, winning league titles in both Hungary and Spain and three European Cups with Real Madrid.

He was the inspiration behind the "Magical Magyars", the Hungarian national side that sensationally beat England 6-3 in 1953, the first foreign side to win at Wembley.

His international goal scoring record of 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary was eclipsed recently, but remains among the most prolific in the world.

As the last millennium drew to a close, Puskas was voted the 20th century's fourth best player by the International Federation for Football History and Statistics.

Puskas, who was admitted to hospital in late 2000 with arteriosclerosis and was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's-like disease, leaves a wife Erzsebet.