Real Madrid legend Raymond Kopa dies aged 85, says family

French football legend Raymond Kopa, who was champion of Europe three times with Real Madrid in the 1950s, died Friday aged 85 after a long illness, his son-in-law said.

"He died at 8.15 am after his illness worsened. Raymond had been in hospital since Sunday," his son-in-law William Boucher said.

At the pinacle of his career in the 1950s he played in a Real Madrid team alongside Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas and was honoured with three European Cup titles and the Ballon d'Or player of the year award.

Real Madrid issued a statement lamenting the loss of a "great star" and offered commiserations to his family.

With Real he won the European Cup in 1957, a year after being losing finalist in 1956 for Reims against Real. He went on to win two more European Cups in 1958 and 1959 with the Spanish giants.

Kopa guided the French national side as they reached the 1958 World Cup semi-final, losing 5-2 to a Brazilian side featuring Pele in his debut tournament.

The same year Kopa became the first French player to win the Ballon d'Or as Europe's player of the year, after placing third in 1956 and 1957 and second in 1959.

He remains today one of only three players, along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, to have figured four times in the Ballon d'Or's top three.

In 1959 he returned to Reims and continued to play until 1967 when he retired.