George Best, Northern Ireland

George Best (22 May 1946 - 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish footballer, best known for his time playing for Manchester United. He plays as a winger, is a player who possesses speed, technique, balance, the ability to create space, shoot well with two feet, the ability to score goals and deceive defenders. In 1968, he won the European Championship with Manchester United and also won the Ballon d'Or the same year. When healthy, he was always the choice of the Northern Ireland team, even though he had never led the team to a World Cup.

In 1999, he was voted 11th, behind Marco Van Basten, in the poll of the best European player of the century organized by IFFHS. Best was also voted 16th, behind Lothar Matthäus, in the vote for the best player of the century. Pelé named him as one of the 125 living football legends of the century in 2004. He is ranked 8th in World Soccer's List of 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century. In his hometown of Northern Ireland, the admiration of the people for him is expressed through a pun: "Maradona good; Pelé better; George Best".

Playing positions: Winger, attacking midfielder