Maradona good; Pele better; George Best?

On this day 65 years ago in Belfast, Northern Ireland, a boy who would one day go on to be regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever was born.

Born to Dickie and Anne Best on May 22, 1946, young George was always destined for something special.
While not many might be aware of this, Best was an academically-gifted student and enrolled at Grosvenor High School, as it was known back then, at the age of 11. However, the insitution specialised in rugby, and Best, even from a young age, clearly excelled at football.
Discontent with life at Grosvenor, Best started to play truant, before finally deciding to transfer to Lisnasharragh Secondary School, reuniting with his primary school friends and allowing himself to focus on his favourite sport.
In 1961, Manchester United scout Bob Bishop sent a telegram to the club's manager Matt Busby with the simple sentence: "I think I've found you a genius." Best had been rejected by local club Glentoran for being too slightly-built, but after a successful trial, United signed him on.

The rest, as they so often say, is history.
And history, Best definitely did make.
The young Ulsterman made his United debut against West Brom on September 14, 1963 and but did not get much playing time in the first half of the season as he was regarded as being too young for regular first-team action.
His second appearance came against Burnley in December that year, where he scored his first goal in a 5-1 win. Thereafter, Busby realised there could be no denying Best's talent, and he went on to make 26 appearances as United finished second in the old English First Division behind Liverpool.
The next season, with Best firmly established as a first-team regular, United went on to win the league.
Whilst he was fast developing a reputation in the United Kingdom, those around the continent were still relatively unaware of his playing ability.
That all changed in 1966 when he scored two goals in a 4-1 European Cup quarter-final victory over the great Benfica team of the "golden era", led by a certain Eusebio. In the wake of his newfound fame, Best was even dubbed "O Quinto Beatle" by the Portuguese media - the fifth Beatle.
With Best leading the line for United with fellow greats Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, United were fast establishing themselves as a major force in European football, and in 1968, they reached the holy grail.
In the absence of Law, who missed much of that season due to a knee injury, Best stepped up 32 goals in 53 games that season. Having already claimed five league titles, it was the European Cup which Busby so badly yearned for, and they had the best opportunity to do so that season, having made it to the final.
Once again pitted against Benfica, United took the lead through Charlton in the 53rd minute, before Jaime Graca equalised in the 75th minute. The matchwas evenly-poised going into extra-time, but just three minutes into the extended period, one United player stepped up to break the deadlock. Who else, but Best himself. A young Brian Kidd scored United's third a minute later, and when Charlton added another in the 99th minute, the tie was all but over.
Manchester United had won their first ever European Cup, ten years on after the Munich air disaster had brought the club to its knees. And with a triumvirate of stars at the club, attaing European football's biggest prize could not have been more poignant.
In Charlton, you had a player who symbolised the past. Someone who bravely fought for his life after the Munich crash, survived the ordeal, and stepped forward to lead the club through its darkest days.
In Law, you had the present. A 28-year old forward who was easily at the peak of his footballing abilities, albeit with a couple of niggling injury concerns.
And then in Best, you had someone who stood for the future. A prodigal talent who by the age of 22 had already won two league titles, an European Cup, a FWA Footballer of the Year, and the European Footballer of the Year, arguably the highest individual accolade awarded in world football.
But in football, and so often in life, the future doesn't always pan out the way it's meant to.
Best still contributed significantly in the four season that followed, scoring 92 goals in 209 appearances - an outstanding record nonetheless. But distractions were aplenty.
He opened two nightclubs in the late 1960s, along with a number of fashion boutiques with Manchester City's Mike Summerbee. The media soon caught wind of his problems with gambling, womanising and alcoholism. And as Best found out the hard way, the one thing the newspapers loved more than a hero, was a villain.
After two more seasons where he failed to play more than 20 league games in either, Best called an end to his time at Old Trafford. He was 27.
While that wasn't the official end to his footballing career, it effectively was.
Best spent a number of years in American where he enjoyed the anonymity that was afforded to him, and he even made a brief comeback in England with Fulham.
But the rest of his career was spent aimlessly wandering around the globe, where he had spells at Stockport County, Bournemouth, Brisbane Lions and even Hong Kong Rangers. Not once did he make more than five league appearances for these sides.
While Best toned down on his party lifestyle, he never fully overcame his alcoholism problem. After years of having kidney problems, which included a transplant in 2002, Best passed away on October 3, 2005.
However, despite never quite living up to his full potential, Best's legacy is plain for all to see.
The Belfast City Airport was renamed in his honour. On the first anniversary of his death, Ulster Bank issued one million commemorative notes, which sold out in five days.
And perhaps, his legacy lives on greatest in and around Old Trafford.
Outside the stadium, a statue of him, Charlton and Law greets all visitors. The mere memory of him is why the number seven jersey is so revered at United. His successors include the likes of Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. All greats in their own right. Yet none quite as great as Best himself.
In 1999, Best was voted 11th at the IFFHS European Player of the Century, and 16th in the World Player of the Century election. In the 2004 FIFA 100 list, Best came in at 19th, just behind Gerd Muller.
But the people that created these lists were writers, critics and various footballing identities. Individuals who understandably had to think with their heads and not their hearts when compiling such rankings.
Quite simply, the best way to understand, and sum up the legacy of George Best, is to return to Northern Ireland, where this great story began.
Ask anyone in the land who the greatest footballer of all time is, and they will simply tell you: "Maradona good; Pele better; George Best."
Famous George Best quotes
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."
"I used to go missing a lot - Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World."
"In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life."
"I once said Gazza's [Paul Gascoigne] IQ was less than his shirt number and he asked me: 'What's an IQ?'"
"I've stopped drinking but only while I'm asleep."

This piece first appeared on espnstar