Lennart Johansson, UEFA president delivered a farewell speech to Ferenc Puskás by letter: „It is simply incredible for me that I can never meet again Ferenc Puskas, Öcsi of the Hungarian. However, we will keep his memory forever in our heart. It is good to remember him. How many records he broke with that left foot, that certain left foot. How many times, and how many times he drove the defenders to madness.”
Alfredo di Stefano, teammate and good friend of Ferenc Puskás, honorary president of Real: "I was at home when I was called at 7.00 a.m. in the morning and I was informed about the sad news – quoted Reuters news agency Alfredo di Stefano. – I lost a friend and an excellent player at the same time, since he was such a man and a football player. Puskas was one of the greatest football players so far. Nevertheless, my friend, the life comes to end the most unexpectedly."
Raymond Kopa, former prominent football player of Real Madrid: "He was my idol! He was one of the best football players of the world that ever lived. If he met the ball within 35 meters from the goal, the goalkeepers feared. I saw the 6:3 victory on the spot, how he won over England at Wembley together with the Hungarian eleven. I do remember, when he arrived to Madrid, the Spanish press wrote rather about his paunch. Many people said that it has been a mistake to hire him. Then, he got to excellent form immediately and everybody was amazed looking at how he was playing. The talent cannot be lost. Unfortunately, in the last years I had to confront with the fact that he would leave us soon, since I have regularly received information concerning his state. I am very upset that he left us."
Iker Casillas, goalkeeper of Real Madrid: „When I was young I have heard a lot about Pancho. He was one of the greatest characters of Real Madrid. I cannot even say how proud am I that I may play in the same stadium week by week where he was playing football.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dutch forward of Real: „I am proud that I may play football in the same Real Madrid where he scored the goals before.”
Ottmar Walter, member of German World Champion Team, 1954: "I am very sad, since we were good friends with Puskas for a long time. Last time, some years ago, when I was in Budapest, Puskas, being a very nice and cheerful man, entertained the company making us laugh. He was always a real magician. He never changed, even when he ranked among the greatest stars of the world. When we won the World Championship, he told us without any susceptibilities that the better team won that day. It also proves how honest he was. Moreover, it proved true repeatedly until our last meeting. We were unbelievable friendly with each other. If DFB sends a delegation to Budapest in his honour, both my wife and me want to be there."
Horst Eckel (world champion, 1954): "Death of Puskás makes me feel upset and be deep in thought. From among the participants in the World Cup Final in 1954, we are only five alive: Ottmar Walter, Hans Schäfer, Grosics, Buzánszky and me. I was seized with the unique feeling that we will experience when one after the other will die. Puskás and me had good fraternal contacts with each other for years, we met several times and participated together in excellent ceremonies. He was also later on a very nice and cheerful man. Previously, however, he bore similarly hard on his team members in the private life like in the football ground. Naturally, I will be the member of the delegation to be sent, on our expectations, by DFB to Budapest."
Theo Zwanziger (president of the German Football Association): "The best left foot of the world is dead, but we keep only his wonderful memories in our mind. The brilliant captain of the Hungarian Gold Team of the 50s was one of the greatest soccer characters of the world. In our mind, his memory is tightly connected to the World Soccer Final in 1954. Later, the opponents of that time became nearly friends and showed good example of the real football companionship for the on-coming generation of both countries."
Jimmy Hill, the former football player of the English Eleven bid farewell to Ferenc Puskás: „I must admit, when I saw Ferenc Puskás playing football, it always took my breath away. He had not six feet at all; he was not a football player of the most athletic shape of the world, but I am sure he was the football player who could ensorcell the ball the best way. We should admit that even the English had not ever such a great player. And I suppose, they will never have.”
George F. Hemingway, i.e. György Szabó, owner of Budapest Honvéd: „We have lost a wonderful person who was not only a football individual. All Honvéd, Real Madrid, entire Hungary, Spain and even the whole world mourn for him. I do not know even what to say... Maybe, may he rest in peace! And if there is football after-life, let him there score the goals like here, in this impermanent world.”
