Listen to the full interview via the Off The Ball Football Show podcast.
With over 700 goals for Benfica, 11 league titles, one European Cup winner's medal and the Golden Boot at the 1966 World Cup, Eusebio was one of a kind.
The Portugal and Benfica great will forever be considered among the best players of all time and Dr Rogan Taylor of the University of Liverpool's Football Research Unit was fortunate enough to see Eusebio in action at the 1966 World Cup.
Taylor, who penned Puskas On Puskas, was at the North Korea game at Goodison Park in which Eusebio scored four goals to lead Portugal to a semi-final against England.
Tonight on Off The Ball we spoke to Taylor about Eusebio's exploits in 1966 and how the Mozambique-born forward was perceived at his peak.
"He was a fantastic player," Taylor reminisced. "He was just one of those players who you knew would fitted in at any stage of football and been in the top three in any year. He's a goal a game guy. He was a total player, two-footed and incredibly fast. He had a shot on him and back in the day when the ball had laces, you really didn't want to get in the way!"
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Because of the limitations of satellite television at the time of the 1966 World Cup, fans in England would not have seen him in the flesh. But those who were at Goodison Park like Taylor, would soon get to know him as Eusebio blasted four goals past North Korea in the World Cup quarter-final.
"It was just unbelievable. People were singing his name because we'd never seen football like that. It was of another order, really. And of course it was a game of such drama. We think coming from 2 - 0 down to win 3 - 2 is quite tasty. But to come from 3 - 0 down to win 5 - 3 is just brilliant," said Taylor.
"He was loved by football fans right across Europe. There is a sharp contrast between Eusebio and Cristiano Ronaldo. Everybody knows Ronaldo is a good footballer but who likes him? Nobody is the answer. The contrast between the Mussolini-like pouting, self-regarding God that Ronaldo thinks he is, compared to the way in which Eusebio comported himself with natural humility, charm and no moaning is sharp. Eusebio was loved because he was a great player and man."
