Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano dies, aged 88

Alfredo di Stefano, former Real Madrid player and one of the all-time greats of the game, has died aged 88.

The ex-Los Blancos forward, who played a key role in the side that won five consecutive European Cups in the 1950s, suffered cardiac arrest on Saturday afternoon in Madrid – the day after his birthday.

Medics spent more than 15 minutes giving him CPR shortly after lunchtime and he was transferred to Gregorio Marañon hospital in Madrid where he was in an induced coma.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had visited him in hospital and said he had been hopeful di Stefano would make a recovery. Messages of support from around the world had been pouring in wishing him well, while both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were in constant contact with the club to get updates on di Stefano’s health.

Perez had said the whole Madridista family had been moved by all the messages received. “We have seen an interest on his condition from all sectors of society, especially from the football world, where Di Stefano has a universal relevance,” a statement from Perez.

As well as firing Real Madrid to success in Europe, di Stefano also won eight La Liga titles, and scored more than 300 goals for the club. At international level he represented both his native Argentina, and his adopted country, Spain.

Everyone at realmadridnews.com sends the family and friends of Alfredo di Stefano our condolences at this sad time.

* Get all Real Madrid news on our Twitter account @realmadridnewsw.