Overview
- Born in Belfast in 1946, Best rose from youth scouting to become one of football’s most gifted dribblers and finishers.
- His career peak came with Manchester United, where he helped win the 1968 European Cup and earned the 1968 Ballon d’Or.
- Writers mark him as the first football ‘pop star’ for his role in the Swinging London scene and for blending sport with music, fashion and celebrity.
- Alcohol problems punctuated his life, leading to arrests, a 2002 liver transplant and his death in 2005, and these struggles remain central to his public story.
- Journalists note his cross-community appeal in Northern Ireland, the huge turnout at his funeral, and his lasting influence on how media and fans treat elite athletes.