How is Best remembered by new generations 20 years on?

George Best, Pele better, and Maradona good.

Three of the best footballers of the 20th century are based on a well-known saying.

Twenty-six years will pass since George Best, who was at the height of his powers, passes away on November 25.

He was one of the first football superstars, and he was a footballing genius, but his absence from football made him appear in both the front and back of the newspapers.

By the time he was in his mid-20s, his celebrity lifestyle had begun to overtake his football in a slope that would never reverse because of how well-known he was off the field.

The footballing genius is not diminished by that.

He was a key player for Manchester United when they won the European Cup for the first time in 1968, which earned him the Ballon d’Or award that year and two league titles.

Best is regarded as one of the greatest players never to feature in a World Cup, and he is still revered as Northern Ireland’s most iconic figure, which is still idolized to this day.

Best’s genius on the pitch stood out in a time of greats, whether it was his European Cup heroics against Benfica, his double hat-trick for United in the FA Cup, or his infamous “goal” against England, where he kicked the ball out of the hands of Peter Shilton and scored before it was ultimately ruled out.

By the age of 28, Best’s leadership position at Old Trafford would have vanished after 11 years. His final years of professional development were rife with brief stints in lower leagues and around the world.

He had lost the magic that had made him a popular figure.

His legacy is still present in Northern Ireland. He is by far the most well-known international athlete.

His name is displayed at the city’s airport, and a statue was built outside Windsor Park in 2019 to honor him.

To mark 20 years since his passing, there was a minute’s worth of applause before Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying match against Luxembourg.

Best’s song reverberated around Windsor Park both before and during the game, as it always does in both home and away games.

It was a fitting tribute for Michael O’Neill, the current manager of Northern Ireland.

“We are well-versed in George’s philosophy of football and his impact on people in Northern Ireland in particular. I thought it was lovely to see that both the stadium and the players recognized George’s footballing legacy.

O’Neill referred to Best as “one of football’s first superstars” and as a “permanent throughout the ages.”

When we arrive at the stadium, the players walk to the ground and observe a statue of George Best outside.

People of a certain age will recall Best’s playing days, and those who were present at the time of his funeral will have fully appreciated his on-pitch prowess.

Best’s name may not carry the same weight as it did when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the “greatest ever” debate, but for the younger generation.

However, it is now more powerful than ever that his legend is based on, and word of mouth and grainy footage only serve to strengthen his claim.

Jamie Donley, a 20-year-old Northern Ireland striker, said, “My dad is a huge football fan and he always used to show me videos of him when I was much younger.

You now realize just how exceptional a player he was. Really, everyone admires him.

“Seeing him on the screen recalled all the memories of seeing him in videos.”

The lasting impression was left by midfielder Patrick Kelly, who was only one-years old when Best passed away.

“I don’t know that he was unbelievable,” he said. My dad and I watched a lot of documentaries and television shows growing up, and he never complained about George Best or how talented he was,” Kelly said.

You can see how talented he was and how influential he is as an icon at Manchester United and Northern Ireland, as stated in the statement, “Of course I could never see him live,” but I’ve seen clips of all of his achievements.