French football legend Raymond Kopa who won the European Cup three times with Real Madrid in the 1950s, died in Paris today after a long illness. The French Football League announced that a minute's silence would be observed before all weekend games in honour of the man who rose from a poor mining family in northern France to become one of Europe's greatest players. Real Madrid issued a statement lamenting the loss of a great star. Kopa was also central part of the French side beaten by Pele's Brazil in a classic World Cup semi-final in 1958. In a statement French Presient Francois Hollande said, Kopa was one of France's most admired sportsmen.