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| Hungary salutes footballer Puskas | Hungary salutes footballer Puskas |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A funeral mass has been held in Budapest for Hungary's legendary footballer Ferenc Puskas who died last month, aged 79, after a long illness. | A funeral mass has been held in Budapest for Hungary's legendary footballer Ferenc Puskas who died last month, aged 79, after a long illness. |
| The mass - in the capital's St Stephen's Basilica - ended a day of national mourning in the country. | The mass - in the capital's St Stephen's Basilica - ended a day of national mourning in the country. |
| Earlier, thousands attended a memorial service at the national stadium. | Earlier, thousands attended a memorial service at the national stadium. |
| Puskas captained Hungary's famed Magical Magyars national team in the 1950s and was a prolific goalscorer. He also played for Spain's Real Madrid. | Puskas captained Hungary's famed Magical Magyars national team in the 1950s and was a prolific goalscorer. He also played for Spain's Real Madrid. |
| From now on, there is one fewer star on earth, but one more star shines in the heavens Jeno BuzanszkyPuskas' team-mate href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6165885.stm" class="">In pictures: Puskas funeral | |
| Puskas moved to Spain after Hungary's failed 1956 revolt against the Soviet rule. | Puskas moved to Spain after Hungary's failed 1956 revolt against the Soviet rule. |
| He became a major goal-scorer for Real Madrid in the 1960s and returned to Hungary in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. | He became a major goal-scorer for Real Madrid in the 1960s and returned to Hungary in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. |
| 'Sea of candles' | 'Sea of candles' |
| Several thousand mourners gathered and lit candles outside St Stephen's Basilica where a Roman Catholic Mass was held for Puskas and where the legendary player was buried. | Several thousand mourners gathered and lit candles outside St Stephen's Basilica where a Roman Catholic Mass was held for Puskas and where the legendary player was buried. |
| Puskas died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease | Puskas died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease |
| Earlier on Saturday, thousands of people - including Hungarian leaders and famous footballers - gathered for the memorial service at the national stadium, renamed after Puskas. | Earlier on Saturday, thousands of people - including Hungarian leaders and famous footballers - gathered for the memorial service at the national stadium, renamed after Puskas. |
| The coffin of Puskas - draped in Hungary's red, white and green flag - was placed on a specially-erected black pyramid in the centre of the emerald-green pitch. | The coffin of Puskas - draped in Hungary's red, white and green flag - was placed on a specially-erected black pyramid in the centre of the emerald-green pitch. |
| Inside the stadium the stands were a sea of candles, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe at the ceremony. | Inside the stadium the stands were a sea of candles, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe at the ceremony. |
| In a ring around the pitch, footballers and sportsmen and women from all over Hungary stood to attention with the names of their teams. | In a ring around the pitch, footballers and sportsmen and women from all over Hungary stood to attention with the names of their teams. |
| Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon and former Germany's football great Franz Beckenbauer were among those who came to pay their last respects Puskas. | Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon and former Germany's football great Franz Beckenbauer were among those who came to pay their last respects Puskas. |
| "He was a true friend and sportsperson, on the pitch as well as off," Jeno Buzanszky, one of the last two surviving members of the famous Hungarian national team in the 1950s. | "He was a true friend and sportsperson, on the pitch as well as off," Jeno Buzanszky, one of the last two surviving members of the famous Hungarian national team in the 1950s. |
| "From now on, there is one fewer star on earth, but one more star shines in the heavens," he said. | "From now on, there is one fewer star on earth, but one more star shines in the heavens," he said. |
| Entertaining people | Entertaining people |
| After the memorial, Puskas' casket was placed on a horse-drawn carriage and taken to Heroes' Square for a brief military ceremony before the funeral service at St Stephen's Basilica. | After the memorial, Puskas' casket was placed on a horse-drawn carriage and taken to Heroes' Square for a brief military ceremony before the funeral service at St Stephen's Basilica. |
| Puskas was a terrific goal-scorer with a fierce left foot | Puskas was a terrific goal-scorer with a fierce left foot |
| Puskas has been described as "the best-known Hungarian of the 20th century" by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. | Puskas has been described as "the best-known Hungarian of the 20th century" by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. |
| Our correspondent says the Hungarian team Puskas led ignited a global revolution in the way football was played. | Our correspondent says the Hungarian team Puskas led ignited a global revolution in the way football was played. |
| He says the short, stocky Puskas epitomised a new emphasis on individual skills and goal-scoring. | He says the short, stocky Puskas epitomised a new emphasis on individual skills and goal-scoring. |
| Gyula Grosics, a former goalkeeper and one of two surviving members of the Magical Magyars team, told the Associated Press news agency earlier this week: "When we played, we were interested not just in the result but also in entertaining the people." | Gyula Grosics, a former goalkeeper and one of two surviving members of the Magical Magyars team, told the Associated Press news agency earlier this week: "When we played, we were interested not just in the result but also in entertaining the people." |