George Best: The best Manchester United Player Ever?

If you followed English football of 1960s, you would certainly remember the great George Best. He was a talented player who had one of the most successful careers in English soccer yet conversely had a seemingly frustrated personal life. His popularity on the soccer pitch simply did not match with the infamous habits of abusing alcohol and womanizing just as Paul Gascoigne in the later years.

Born on May 22nd 1946 in Belfast, a town called Cregagh, he grew up loving the game though many people dismissed him because of his small body size. When everyone else had failed to spot the potential for his career as a footballer, Bob Bishop spotted him and helped turn him into one of the most accomplished football players in more than a decade. Bishop immediately told Matt Busby that he was a genius. Signed in for trial by Man U, George turned professional after a short while.  

Having started off from West Bromwich Albion at 17 years, George Best is no doubt one of the best players in Manchester United’s history. With a score of 115 goals in six seasons, and playing in working formula of a trio that included Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton, he went ahead to be voted the best European player in 1967.

Like other football celebrities such as David Beckham, distraction off the pitch such as modelling contracts, women, and personal demons led him to heavy drinking. He is famous for the infamous statement, "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."

The Life of The Greatest Soccer Player Ever: Pele

None of the modern day world cup players have ever come close to Pele’s record of 1200 goals throughout his career including several World Cup Championships. He is truly one of greatest players from 20th Century soccer.

One cannot help but notice the outstanding career of Pele even when there are other soccer icons such as Diego Maradona. Pele exceeds them all with a record of 1281 scores in 1360 games, almost 1 score per game.

His real name is Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but he was nicknamed Pele, a nickname that stuck with him since his school days. Pele was the youngest member of the 1958 Brazilian soccer team that won that year’s World Cup. He was actually just 17 years old when he scored 2 goals in the World Cup. 

Coming from poor Brazilian family, Pele owes part of his success to his father who was also a soccer player. He started to shine in Brazilian soccer when he played for the Brazilian team Santos helping them win the 1962-63 intercontinental World Cup qualifiers. He was to play in the 1962 and 1966 World Cup were it not for injury. Pele’s time came in 1970 when he was instrumental in helping Brazil win the world’s biggest soccer tourament.

Even in retirement, Pele continued to pull in the crowds and this was recognized when he signed a contract with New York’s Cosmos in a bid to increase crowds by gracing the American Soccer league. His foot skills and speed were without doubt instrumental in his successful football career.