Josef Masopust

Born on February 9, 1931 in the small village of Střimice, Josef Masopust grew up amid the hardships of World War II before becoming the greatest star of Czechoslovak football. A left midfielder with precise passing and keen game vision, he moved to Dukla Prague in 1952, a club linked to the Czechoslovak Army, where he built a 16-season career. At Dukla, Masopust won eight national league titles and three cups, becoming the greatest idol in the club's history. His playing style combined ball recovery in midfield with precise passes to attackers, characteristics that made him a key player also for the Czechoslovak National Team. In 1962, at the World Cup in Chile, Masopust led Czechoslovakia to the tournament final, opening the scoring against Brazil with a left-footed shot before the Brazilian team turned the game around and won 3-1. Despite the defeat, his performance at the World Cup and throughout the year earned him the Ballon d'Or from France Football in 1962, making him the first player from a communist bloc country to receive the honor. He ended his playing career as a player-coach in Belgium at RWD Molenbeek, and later pursued a coaching career, including managing Dukla Prague. He died on June 29, 2015, in Prague, at age 84, remembered as the greatest footballer in Czech history.