Portugal great Eusebio, who was admitted to Lisbon's Luz hospital this week with pneumonia, could be moved out of the intensive care unit by Saturday.

"He is doing well now, after two days in intensive care unit he is doing better. He is very stable... and is better than yesterday," Luz hospital clinical director Jose Roquette told Reuters. "We think he might go to intermediate care unit tomorrow."

The former Benfica and Portugal striker, who was the top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, turns 70 in January.

"I think that in two or three days we will be getting better news. Anyway, he will spend Christmas with us... tomorrow we will make a new appraisal of the situation. He is feeling very well, very calm, speaking with the family and some friends," said Roquette, before adding that Eusebio asked to have codfish for Christmas eve, the traditional Portuguese meal.