“Maradona good, Pele better, George Best” say United fans, believing Best to be the greatest player ever to play the game. In 1968, when United were the first English team to be crowned Champions of Europe, George Best scooped the European Player of the Year award. His team mates Bobby Charlton and Denis Law had already been given the honour.
Since then, however, no United player has won the Ballon d’Or. David Beckham came close in 1999 after United won the Treble, coming second to Barcelona’s Rivaldo. The only other United player since Best to appear in the top 3 was Cantona in 1993, with Denis Bergkamp, then at Inter, finishing 2nd, and Juve’s Roberto Baggio coming 1st.
Cristiano Ronaldo seems certain to claim the title this season, despite UEFA being less than keen to hand over the award to a player in England. After breaking George Best’s goals record this season for a midfielder at United, when he scored 32 in 1968, Ronaldo has confirmed his place in United’s history books at least. He is currently on 34 goals, with there being at least at least 9 games left to play (more if we progress in the Champions League), scoring goals from all over the pitch, leading Sir Alex Ferguson to draw comparisons between him and Best.
“There are certainly similarities,” Ferguson said. “When George played as a winger I don’t think he ever stayed still. He roamed from side to side – he played on the right, the left and through the middle. I’ve looked at Best’s goals and a lot of Cristiano’s are similar. He starts from wide positions before cutting inside. The boy’s in tremendous form right now.”
There is a lot of talk of football not being like it used to be, back in the good old days, when men were men, etc., which would lead some people to say there is no way Ronaldo can be compared to Best. Whilst Ronaldo has certainly toughened up, he is a far cry from a player like George Best, who bombed down the field without shin pads, getting kicked from pillar to post. Whilst Ronaldo is one of the most fouled players in the league, we all know who would have convincingly win in a fight between him and Best, if we really wanted to look at strength.
However, whether we like it or not, the game has moved away from its more physical roots, and the focus is technical ability rather than physical strength. The question is, does Ronaldo have technical ability that matches that of George Best?
George Best Greatest Goals
How do you think Ronaldo rates in comparison to Best?
Georgie said it best: it was a compliment to be remembered so fondly that he could be compared to CR7 who plays in a different era with radically different athletes. Back then, the fields were lousy, the defenders were cloggers, and the ball was water-logged so guys of my vintage tend to see Georgie Best through rose-coloured glasses. Today, the fields are generally well-drained, the defenders are more likely to be finely-tuned athletes, and the ball is water-proofed. Obviously, someone with Best’s talent – or Maradona or Pele – would no doubt thrive in any situation but, to my way of thinking, the stakes are higher nowadays and the opposition’s skills are far more finely-tuned. It might not be a “harder” game but it is a more difficult game in which to excel on an individual level.
It has been my very great pleasure to have seen both of these guys play in their prime for UTD, For me, the key factor in relating CR7 higher than Georgie is that Best flamed out whereas Cristiano shows no signs that he wants to be anything other than a footballer. So, that bodes well for his future improvement.
If Cristiano Ronaldo helps United win the Champions League and the Premier League, and scores more than 40 goals this season, I would go as far to say that Cristiano is the best player in the history of Football! Best no 2.
Eddie, I would have to add to that a few more ‘if’s
Ronaldo would have to star in our big champions league games, terrorising both barcelona in the semis and liverpool/arse/chelsea in the final.
Then he can compete with Best. Let’s not get carried away yet. (And that’s coming from a 16 year old)
Don’t forget Euro 2008! Ronaldo came so close to winning Euro 2004 and performed so well at World cup 2006 that the stage is set for him to rubber stamp his near perfect season so far and remove all doubt that he is indeed the very best in the world. I really hope all our boys do well in the summer as the experience gained will definitely benefit them and the club.
I think I agree with Denton. If I were to play a game of football now with players of equal ability, I think it is a lot easier to play in today’s conditions, with the facilities we have today.
Taking the different era’s into account when comparing Ronny with Georgie and I still think it is a fair thing to say.
However, I’m sure if Ronaldo neve played for United he would never have been compared to Best. The fact that they both were/are our ‘7′ and played in the wide positions, both good looking and amazed the crowds week in week out single handedly is where it comes from and I have no complaints.
Although pundits do mostly sing Ronaldo praises, it will still take him to score a winner in the Champions League final or at Stamford Bridge before the twats with a hidden agenda against United accept him as the worlds best, our new best.
If man is 5 and the Devil is 6, then GOD IS 7.