Dutch football icon Johan Cruyff dies aged 68 from cancer

Dutch football icon Johan Cruyff has died at the age of 68 after losing his battle with cancer.

A statement read: "On March 24, 2016 Johan Cruyff (68) died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

"It's with great sadness that we ask you to respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."

It was announced just last month that the former Ajax and Barcelona player and manager had received "very positive" results in his fight against lung cancer.

"Right now, I have the feeling that I am 2-0 up in the first half of a match that has not finished yet," he said. "But I am sure I will end up winning."

However, Cruyff, who won the Ballon d'Or three times in his career, passed away today after first being diagnosed with the disease last October.

A forward, Cruyff scored 290 league goals in a club career spanning 20 years and also netted 33 times in 48 international appearances for Netherlands.

He is regarded as one of the most influential forwards in football history and even has a trick named after him – the below 'Cruyff Turn'.

RIP Johan Cruyff. pic.twitter.com/ixqabd1nTU

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) March 24, 2016

He won ten league titles, three European Cups and led the Dutch to runners-up at the 1974 World Cup as a player before guiding Barca to four straight league titles and a European crown between 1990 and 1994.