Argentine soccer great Omar Sivori is in hospital suffering from a stomach illness, local media have reported.

The 68-year-old, who had a memorable attacking partnership at Juventus with Welshman John Charles, was rushed to hospital with inflammation of the pancreas, the state news agency Telam said.

Sivori, the European Footballer of the Year in 1961 and who played for both Argentina and Italy, made his first division debut for River Plate at 17 in 1954 and won two Argentine championships with his club.

After shining in Argentina's Copa America victory in Peru in 1957, Sivori was transferred to Juventus with whom he won three Serie A titles.

Under the less stringent nationality rules of the time he later played nine times for Italy, scoring eight goals.

Charles, the "gentle giant", died in a hospital in Wakefield in northern England in February at the age of 72.