Real Madrid and Hungary legend Puskas 'critical'.

Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas is in critical condition in a Budapest hospital, according to media reports.

Sport daily Nemzeti Spor said the 79-year-old, who has been in intensive care for two months, is suffering from a fever and pneumonia.

Puskas has been confined to hospital for six years with Alzheimer's disease.

He led Hungary's Golden Team of the early 1950s, before taking Spanish citizenship and becoming part of Real Madrid's all-conquering team.

Puskas scored a remarkable 83 goals in 84 matches for Hungary between 1945 to 1956, many of them with his hammer of a left-foot.

After leading Hungary to the 1952 Olympic Gold medal, he was part of the Mighty Magyars who became the first overseas team to beat England on home soil in 1953, scoring twice in the 5-3 win at Wembley.

Hungary then rolled England over 7-1 in Budapest and were consequently installed as favourites for the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland.

But injury to Puskas severely hampered the Magyars and they lost in the final to Germany.

Puskas joined Real Madrid and, along with Alfredo di Stefano, was the inspiration behind a string of domestic and European titles.

He scored four goals in Real's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in a remarkable final at Hampden Park in 1960, and won the European Cup three times with Madrid side.

In all, he scored 512 goals for Real in 528 matches and in 1962 he took out Spanish citizenship in time to play for his adopted country in the 1962 World Cup.