Real Madrid legend and honorary life president Alfredo di Stefano has passed on, aged 88, after suffering a heart attack in the Gregorio Marañón hospital in Madrid.

Di Stefano had first suffered a heart attack in December 2005 before suffering a second early in July 2014, which prompted his admission at the Marañon hospital where he passed away today.

The Argentine born striker played for Real Madrid between 1953 and 1964, scoring a staggering 307 goals in 396 appearances for Real and famously scored in five European Cup final matches as he led the Spanish club to win the European crown five times between 1956 and 1960.

During his playing career, Di Stefano also won the Spanish league title eight times, the Copa America with Argentina and was awarded the Ballon d’Or twice in 1957 and 1959.

Oddly, di Stefano never played in the FIFA World Cup despite playing for three countries in his career, missing the 1950 and 1954 editions due to Argentina refusing to participate in both years.

And after acquiring Spanish citizenship in 1957, Di Stefano would still fail to make a World Cup appearance for Spain as the European nation failed to qualify for the 1958 edition while an injury ruled him out of the 1962 World Cup.