Eusebio to be discharged from hospital

Former Portugal and Benfica star Eusebio is likely to be discharged from hospital by the end of the week, according to a Spanish report.

Eusebio has been in hospital since last Wednesday with double pneumonia resulting from an infection in both lungs. He was transferred out of the intensive care unit over Christmas, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

Jose Roquette, a clinical director at Lisbon's Hospital da Luz, was quoted in AS as saying Eusebio could be released on Thursday or Friday as ''his condition has improved as expected and he has been an excellent patient.''

Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, who turns 70 next month, became a Portuguese icon from standout performances in the 1960s and was named one of FIFA's 10 best football players of all time in 1998.