We take a look back at perhaps the best football player never to win the World Cup. In fact, he never even played in the tournament.
We take a look back at perhaps the best football player never to win the World Cup. In fact, he never even played in the tournament.
George Best is generally regarded as the most talented player of his generation, his name cropping up in barroom conversations along with those of legends like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Johan Cruyff (another Cup non-winner). After making his professional debut at age 17, the skillful left-winger scored more than 180 goals for Manchester United and helped them win the 1968 European Cup.
“Everyone has their own opinion about football and their favorite players,” said current Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. “But in terms of British players, you would find it difficult to think of anyone better.”
British, yes – but not English.
Best was from Northern Ireland, and made 37 appearances with them between 1964 and 1978. Unfortunately, he was never surrounded by a talented supporting cast and the team failed to qualify for either the World Cup or even the European Championship during Best’s career.
Best might have played when Northern Ireland qualified in 1982 – he was 36 at the time – but alcoholism and a playboy lifestyle had by then blunted his abilities. After leaving Manchester United in 1974, Best’s career had quickly gone downhill as he bounced around clubs in soccer backwaters like South Africa, Australia and the United States.
Best hung up his cleats for good in 1983. He would struggle with alcoholism for the remainder of his life and it would eventually lead to his death in 2005 at the age of 59.
Below is a tribute featuring some of George Best’s finest moments. You can read his full obituary here.
