Kolkata, July 29 - Samar Banerjee, famed footballer of yesteryears who led India to a semi-final finish in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, was Wednesday presented the Mohun Bagan club's highest award, Mohun Bagan Ratna, at a glittering function here.

The country's soccer legends P.K. Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Sailen Manna handed over the award to a beaming Banerjee - affectionately called Badru - who described it as one of the 'biggest moments of his life'.

Banerjee, an attacking genius of the 1950s, had a long stint with Bagan as a player.

'All awards are important. I feel proud to have captained Mohun Bagan,' he said after receiving the award at the Mohun Bagan Day function.