Obituaries

Dutch Soccer Star Johan Cruyff Dies At Age 68

Cruyff had been battling lung cancer since at least October. He was a star on the Dutch national team in the '70s.

Dutch Soccer Star Johan Cruyff Dies At Age 68
Dutch National Archives
SMS

International soccer great Johan Cruyff is dead at age 68. 

Cruyff had been battling lung cancer since at least October but remained optimistic about his fight. He said in February it felt like he was "2-0 up in a match" against cancer. 

Cruyff was a longtime member of the 1970s Dutch national team, and the center forward is credited with helping revolutionize the modern game with his "Total Football" style. 

His signature move was the "Cruyff turn" — essentially fake shooting before pulling the ball behind your plant leg and turning a different direction. 

Even though he fell short of winning a World Cup, he's still considered one of the greatest players in World Cup history. 

He's one of only a handful of players to win the Ballon d'Or — the award for Europe's best player — three times throughout his career. He also won three straight European Cups as a member of Ajax Amsterdam. 

This video includes clips from Johan Cruyff InstituteYouTube / Yael Averbuch and SPOX, and images from Getty Images.