Real great Di Stefano dies at age 88

Tributes pour in for the Spanish club's first 'galactico'

Alfredo Di Stefano, the player Real Madrid has hailed as the most important component in its mid-20th century ascent to becoming a global soccer powerhouse, has died. He was 88.

Real Madrid said in a statement that Di Stefano, its honorary president, died on Monday afternoon at Gregorio Maranon hospital, two days after a heart attack.