Paulo Futre was one of the most electrifying attacking talents Portugal has produced, a quick, direct forward whose dribbling could unsettle any defence. As a teenager he was pivotal to Porto’s European Cup triumph in 1987 before a lucrative move to Atlético Madrid made him a star of Spanish football.
Injuries, particularly to his knees, ultimately curtailed a career that had promised even greater heights, and he later played across Europe. At his best he was a player of rare flair, remembered for the audacity and speed that made him a favourite wherever he went.