Mário Coluna

Club career Born in Inhaca, Portuguese Mozambique to a Portuguese father and a Mozambican mother, Coluna was spotted by S.L. Benfica while playing for Desportivo de Lourenço Marques, where he excelled at basketball and track and field.

Coluna captained Benfica from 1963 to 1970, in 328 matches. Already at the service of Olympique Lyonnais, he was awarded a testimonial match by his main club on 8 December 1970, playing against a UEFA selection that featured the likes of Johan Cruyff, Dragan Džajić, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore, Uwe Seeler or Luis Suárez. He retired professionally aged 35 after one sole campaign with the French side, but spent one year with amateurs Sport Clube Estrela from Portalegre, acting as player-coach.

Coluna scored in both European Cup finals won by Benfica. In 1961, he beat FC Barcelona's Antoni Ramallets from long range in a 3–2 win in Bern. The following year, against fellow Spaniards Real Madrid, he netted the 3–3 equaliser and subsequently was supposed to take the penalty that resulted in the 4–3 lead (eventual 5–3 victory), when youngster Eusébio politely asked if he could shoot it instead.

International career Coluna played 57 times for the Portugal national team, scoring eight goals. His first appearance was in a friendly with Scotland on 4 May 1955 (3–0 loss), and his last was on 11 December 1968 in a 4–2 defeat to Greece for the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Coluna captained the Magriços in all except one of the matches during the third-place campaign at the 1966 World Cup in England.

Style of play Coluna was noted for his leadership skills, calm demeanor and respectful conduct, as well as his vision and reading of the game, passing range and powerful long shots.

Coluna died on 25 February 2014 at the age of 78 in Maputo, after not being able to overcome a pulmonary infection.

Honours Benfica Primeira Liga: 1954–55, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69 Taça de Portugal: 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1968–69 European Cup: 1960–61, 1961–62 Intercontinental Cup runner-up: 1961, 1962

Portugal FIFA World Cup third-place: 1966 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1966 World XI: 1967