The Galloping Major

Ferenc Puskas has died. He was one of the true greats of international soccer with a per game goals scored average greater then Pele.

From ESPN: "Puskas starred in two of the most famous games in European soccer history -- scoring twice in Hungary's stunning 6-3 upset over England at Wembley Stadium in 1953, and scoring four goals in Real Madrid's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup final." As a side note Di Stefano scored a hat trick in the Real-Eintracht game. In 1999, he was voted the 6th best soccer player of the 20th century, though I think he was arguably better then that.

The game has changed since Puskas' time with the mid-field and defenses more dominant then ever. Those fans who bristle at a 1-0 or 1-1 game will appreciate the striker oriented mentality that dominated the international game in the 50s and 60s when Puskas, Di Stefano and Pele reigned supreme. And scores of 6-3 and 7-3 were far more common.

The world of soccer lost a true superstar.