Alfredo Di Stefano – the most complete footballer of all-time

The great Alfredo Di Stefano has died at the age of 88, but his legacy as one of the best footballers in history lives on.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Di Stefano will be chiefly remembered for his remarkable exploits in the shirt of Real Madrid, bestriding the early years of the European Cup.

The Spanish club won the first five editions of Europe's premier club competition with a team boasting bona fide legends including Ferenc Puskas, Raymond Kopa and Francisco Gento, but it is a mark of Di Stefano's greatness that he was regarded as the linchpin.

That is Di Stefano pictured above, backheeling the ball past Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg in the late 1950s.

A prolific forward, the Argentine was also renowned for his ability to play almost anywhere on the pitch, making him perhaps the most complete footballer the world has seen.

This selection of Di Stefano records say it all:

49 European Cup goals (in just 58 games, a record that stood for more than 40 years and was only eclipsed in the Champions League-era, when more games are played)

305 goals for Real Madrid (in 392 games; only Raul has more, and it took him 741 games to reach 323 goals)

Scored in five consecutive European Cup finals, all of which were won by Real Madrid

Twice Ballon d'Or winner (European Footballer of the Year)

And here is what the greatest had to say about Di Stefano:

"People talk about the best being Pele or Diego Maradona, but for me the best player ever was Alfredo Di Stefano." Pele

"I always say that we have three players on the podium: Alfredo Di Stefano, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi." Diego Maradona

"Who is this man? He takes the ball from the goalkeeper, he tells the full-backs what to do, wherever he is on the field he is on the field he is in position to take the ball; you see his influence on everything that is happening… I had never seen such a complete footballer. It was as though he had set up his own command centre at the heart of the game. He was as strong as he was subtle. The combination of qualities was mesmerising." Bobby Charlton