When George Best Humiliated Gordon Banks | George Best vs England | 15/05/1971

George Best's performance in the game against England with the infamous disallowed goal. The first 26 minutes of the original footage were without the sound.

[@erroneousbatch]

That pitch was mostly sand, but I imagine it was paradise when compared to the mud heaps so common back then. Imagine Besty playing on today's pitches and with the protection afforded to modern players. He'd be unstoppable, or, I should say, even more unstoppable. TOTAL LEGEND!

[@ThatGuyThanus]

Always said it was a goal. A brilliant goal, at that.. I’m English, but I always supported Northern Ireland when George was playing!

[@alanmctavish4802]

@that guy well that says alot about how much you admired george best. Sadly 1971 would be the last year we would see this man at his best. From start of 1971 to the end of it no player in the world could do what george did in this year for man utd. And its sad that it was george coming into his peak, to then be let down by the club. He didnt play that great here, but if he did a think ireland would have won. They had the better of england for most of the match. And it was a goal. But you could see he was losing the ball in midfield, where he played for most of the match.

[@gavinomura391]

Who is the 11 ? Very good.

[@steffanhoffmann]

​​@@alanmctavish4802From films I have watched, he always looked half-hearted; in an Irish shirt.

[@mohdazmi10]

An exquisite goal . Should be allowed to stand.

[@steffanhoffmann]

@@mohdazmi10 Referees decision is final then no technology. Deal with it

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

WHEN YOU BEAT A GREAT GOALKEEPER LIKE GORDON BANKS AND TOO FAST FOR THE CAMERAMAN, YOU'RE A GENIUS. RIP BEAUTIFUL TO THE IRISH GENIUS GEORGE BEST ❤ LOVE FROM ENGLAND ❤

[@stiofandundealgan1280]

George really suits his name ! A football Legend !

[@olegoleg5123]

George Best is one of the best examples of all game dominative player. On the same "shelf" with Di Stefano, Maradona, Cryiff Grigory Fedotov (forward from 1930-es).

[@mikoajdariuszmackowiak2141]

I would agree if I knew who the hell is Fedotov???

[@hdr23]

​@@mikoajdariuszmackowiak2141russian 🤡😅

[@deborahscott6005]

George Best didnt 'humiliate' Gordon Banks who was an incredible goal keeper. They were both legends in their own right and should be remembered as such.

[@frankhornby6873]

Absolutely a goal!...and VAR would’ve proven that it was completely out of Bank’s hands when Best got his boot to it...he was just too quick thinking for Banks!...and to nod it in was brilliant!...and I watched that game as I am an English man!...you didn’t have to be Irish to drool over the MAGIC OF GEORGE BEST....

[@deankeith830]

may i suggest that you read Law 12 ... all of it .

[@herbertjohnston4608]

As a young man i was there great goal as best says the watched Banks and was waiting his opportunity. 🇬🇧👍

[@paulcraig3355]

The greatest footballer ever and the greatest goalkeeper ever

[@kaleidoscopesdannybrigman2061]

Say no more cheers Dan

[@abeldosanjosconradonetocon5780]

Não fica nem entre os 30 melhores. 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@gazza2933]

Yes, absolutely! Maradona 's favourite player too.

[@gazza2933]

​@@abeldosanjosconradonetocon5780 Brazil doesn't have a monopoly on great players.

[@abeldosanjosconradonetocon5780]

@@gazza2933 Pelé, Garrincha, Ronaldo fenômeno, Ronaldinho gaúcho, Romário , Rivaldo... 5 vezes campeão do mundo. Isso é Brasil 👋👋👋

[@alanmctavish4802]

George best was the first player i saw that made the game look fun and great to play. Even if anyone made a mistake george would smile. He made me want to play the game alot more than i did. In an area with alot of bullies that were shite, and it ruins so many natural talented boys. Like a team with 5 brothers in it. Others tried to get me away from all them and that and into a team that had contacts. But i didnt listen.

[@stevemoss9759]

I watched it live on TV and cheered that goal by Best. Most Anglofans still reckon it was a genius goal even 52 years on!

[@timwright4676]

Same here.

[@MrEddipp]

of course it was a goal the ball had left Bank's boot

[@steveblack610]

Had the goal stood it would be just one of many in George’s catalogue. My dad described this goal to me as a kid in the 70s. Getting ruled out has given it that little bit extra for us to cherish.

[@steaks652]

George Best was a diamond.

[@hugohackenbush3524]

I vividly remember watching this game as a teenager and knew straight away that it was, a legitimate goal. I mean, why else would Bank's have scrambled, then turned back and dived for the ball? Georgie was just being Georgie. The Best. R.I.P Georgie Best ⚽🙏🏻

[@jamesjenkins1680]

i was there as a teenager too couldnt understand why the idiot disallowed it

[@hugohackenbush3524]

@@jamesjenkins1680 Banks admitted as much in an interview years later. I can't remember if it was before or after Georgie died or not. I'd like to assume it was the former as I know that banks had a reputation as a proper gentleman.

[@Bill-Butcher]

Great upload, love these old vids of legends like Best, Cruyff, Muller etc... Keep up the good work 👍

[@tommcroe4211]

I was in the stand that day and even today after being a FIFA Referee myself I cannot see why George was penalised.

[@user-tp3yv4lc4c]

He was the most exciting player with the ball at his feet

[@The_Blueyonder]

Absolutely nothing wrong with that goal.

[@kenneththompson8933]

No. I saw it live all those years ago. It was a goal then & it is still a goal now!!

[@Tarantin-ix2ti]

Если ты это видел вживую, то сколько тебе лет? И футбол так себе, сходи лучше на матч реал - барселона

[@marioz2312]

It is a clear faul. It was and it is now. Read the rules of the game.

[@Tarantin-ix2ti]

@@marioz2312 пиши по русски. Привыкай учить русский язык, скоро вам всем это понадобится

[@marioz2312]

@@Tarantin-ix2ti мои штаны уже трясутся от страха

[@kennethdrewary1094]

My first ever league game was Liverpool v Stoke City, Banks in goal. Next day he had the accident which ended his career.

[@ysgol3]

Hi, I saw that match on TV, and the lovely welcome the Kop gave him.

[@kennethdrewary1094]

@ysgol3 I had a main stand ticket with dad, and remember the ovation he received, blowing kisses to the kop. A few years later, I watched from the Kop, well it was 50p, had to save money, lol.

[@ysgol3]

@@kennethdrewary1094 What a great thing to have been there for! PS It was definitely a goal by George wasn't it!

[@kennethdrewary1094]

@ysgol3 A goal then. Best would have been booked today, lol

[@simonmcpartlin6547]

I take it the ref disallowed it because he had never seen it done before. Perfectly legitimate goal.

[@fieldfullofthistles]

George Best was my hero when I was a lad and i remember watching this and thinking what a goal! Unfortunately The Laws of the Game state an indirect free kick is awarded if a player prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it. That's why it was disallowed.

[@marioz2312]

Finally, someone who read & understo od the rules of the game!

[@brucetrappleton6984]

What a player!! Today he’d be on the 100 million value or more.

[@paulweir5031]

And the rest.

[@Sidiqi]

When is a goal not a goal. When the Ref sees it differently from what I see. Anyway it’s undoubtably the greatest goal ‘never’ scored! R.I.P. George and thanks for the memories.

[@buffon550]

George best era un genio

[@carlosdeno]

Best had watched footage of Banks and knew how he kicked the ball from his hands. Robbed of a perfectly good goal, the man was a genius.

[@pancholefty5828]

Yeaah.. Always loving britain football. ❤ La bise from Ardèche, France...and allez les verts.

[@LordFlashheart.11]

That goal should have stood. Piece of genius quick thinking. I can imagine a lot of pro's being annoyed with Best, trying to score from a lot of corner kicks and acute angles. Wasted so many opportunities.

[@OllyBockus]

The title of this clip is ludicrous- Best didn't ''humiliate'' Banks, he committed a foul on him and was penalised for it. The referee applied the laws of the game fairly and gave a free kick against Best for dangerous play.

[@marioz2312]

​@@OllyBockusRight, my friend. Those who comment for the goal either never played football nor read the rules of the game.

[@timwright4676]

Did George look better in red, blue or green? He just always looked great.

[@sphughes01]

Real, real shame that he could not get himself fit for the world cups in 1982 and 1986. What a player George Best was and even though he would have been in his thirties he would still have been a revalation and an inspiration not only for the team but for the world. And on the goal that never was that again shows how obtuse officials were and are today. Can you imagine that decision with VAR?

[@vijayiyer8518]

Wouldn't he have been close to 40 at the 1986 world cup ?

[@harryferris2001]

I can remember when I was a boy and George Best scored that goal, and my dad said to me that the only reason that goal never stood was that it was scored against Banks. I thought that had better mention my dad is English.

[@neilwilliams8741]

var please best said he watched players goalis all the time knew banks bounced it 3 times...a truely great player

[@bluearmy4228]

Best...what a player! And Banks...what a keeper! Those were the days!

[@brianallen2706]

Goal all day long. And I'm English and Banks was my favourite keeper.

[@ysgol3]

Definitely, 100%, a fair goal. I reckon the referee, for whom I have some sympathy (not that much of course), didn't see it properly and assumed that it was impossible to get the ball like that without fouling Gordon Banks. This would of course normally have been true, but this was George Best, in the midst of the last great year of his career. I remember so well watching it live on TV with my grandfather, who was old and ill and more a rugby man, and even he jumped up shouting that it was a goal! PS I wonder what VAR would have made of it?

[@paulweir5031]

VAR goal without a doubt; not that there was any !

[@andrewdunne1735]

Why didn't the Ref consult the linesman,

[@ysgol3]

@@andrewdunne1735 Great point, maybe the linesman was running to where he expected Gordon's 'clearance' to land and therefore missed it as well!

[@alanmctavish4802]

I can still remember the day on grandstands football focus when george best was the guest when bob wilson was the interviewer and analist on the show for a few years. It was in 1982 and i was age just 9, and they showed that goal that best scored here, and without any ov them saying a word just as best was about to be intruduced by bob. And i tbh didnt know what to think at first? As i had never seen any player do this before. So i was laughing at the cheek ov it and the clever fast thinking plus how fast george best managed to do it as he watched banks like an eagle slightly moving from side to side to try and get a clear kick at the ball then george struck like a viper, then he ran for it with banks chasing after him while trying to grabb his top or anything to stop him as george headed it into the net. It was just like watching two ov my friends in school with one chasing after the other to stop him. I was football mad at this age and time, so what happend was just so funny but brilliant, but was it a goal? i thought? I hadent a clue, Then asked my dad and older brother who saw it way back in 1971 when it happend live on tv. Then again when i saw it with them in 1982. They both aggreed it was a legit goal, at the time and it still was. But i wasnt sure as at the time and age just 9, it was really down to how much you knew the rules ov the game. And i just knew the basics like all kids my age, plus it happend so fast and unexpected. So when my friend got that goal on a video tape he sayed to me its clearly a goal, just watch as banks goes to kick the ball, then watch as he throws the ball into the air, then watch best as he kicks it over banks head and doesnt even touch him as he does it plus the ball is hardly 3 feet in the air. So as banks chases best its really banks that fouls best by trying to hold him back. And its all so true. Every one knows that IS a goal. After the game when the referee was asked why he didnt give the goal he said it was becouse he had never seen that done before? But what he is really saying is that he didnt know the rule or rules ov the game. Best did the same 3 weeks later to pat jeninngs and the goal was given. But even in 1971 for a proffesional referee to not even know the rules in a home international game is pathetic, or was pathetic. George always said the referees were very bad in the english leauge, that some decisions often left him speechless. As if it was a joke. That is one ov the greatest goals you will ever see in football. The audacity ov it and timing and speed, skill, and speed of thought, tenacity, flair, it had the lot. Plus a loved the way best was hitting long passes with both feet, and even when on the turn and with that strong wind, a noticed how he knew how to use the wind when against it. He was the greatest.

[@robertreed6045]

George was the best. What ball skills not seen in this era. RIP football.

[@gerladrobinson287]

What a legend

[@AlanBoddy-fl2qp]

What a work rate Simply the best.... better than all the rest 👍 had to turn the music off

[@albertobaudino1963]

Best is genius! Banks is the huge goalkeeper!

[@edlawn5481]

Saw both Best and Banks playing for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

[@daveloboda1769]

England fan here. I remember watching this as it hapened, the goal should have been allowed, nothing wrong with what George did.

[@johnh9749]

The goal was rightly disallowed. Law 12 says 'A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with the hands'. The rules then (and now) were that raising a foot in that way when a keeper is about to clear the ball is a foul. The fact that there was no contact is irrelevant. If Banks had followed through with his kick then he would have broken his ankle. Having played in goal in local league football this rule is one that you remember! Not sure that the title is great. Both Best and Banks were fantastic players.

[@tinamartini]

Sorry to be pedantic but it was Northern Ireland, not Ireland, as Brian Moore kept calling them. But George is my favourite player of all time.

[@standenberg]

Personally speaking, you’re not being pedantic. Ireland was represented by a single national football team between 1882 and 1924. Eire & Northern Ireland had existed before Brian Moore was born so he should’ve known better & respectfully called them Northern Ireland.

[@Artiz...]

@@standenberg Brian was simply using the correct historic/official name at that time! They began calling Ireland>Northern Ireland sometime in this actual 1971/72 football season... same year the Northern Ireland conflict escalated into open street warfare and disturbing inhumanity! So you can call me pedantic if you like... I'll still be historically correct and so will ar Brian! Tina clearly isn't.. ya simp! 🤣

[@Artiz...]

Got to put you right unfortunately Tina... 'In 1921, the jurisdiction of the IFA was reduced to Northern Ireland following the secession of clubs in the soon-to-be Irish Free State, although its team remained the national team for all of Ireland until 1950, and used the name Ireland until the 1970s.' *Wikipedia* You gotta look this stuff up before attempting to be 'pedantic' Tina... you also need to be correct first!😉

[@tinamartini]

@@Artiz... fair enough. I stand corrected. Different era, but back then we all still called them Northern Ireland and it seems dismissive of the real and relatively big country to the south and west that is the real Ireland! Still, I consider my wrist well and truly slapped!

[@Artiz...]

@@tinamartini At least you acknowledge it rather than 'shouting sh!t' as a reply... like others here! The point I'm making all over this particular comments section is that history matters! Why... because football is a socio-historic foundation of our cultural and social realities... right across the world! Making money from uploading uninformed bullshit about 'The People's Game' is furkin irritating, intrinsically misleading and clearly infectious for 'football idiots' to write even further ridiculous bullshit! Respect to you!

[@leandrocarvalho2468]

Legend

[@baharudinmohdnoor5976]

My favourite player all time❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@petermizon4344]

I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GOAL TOO BUT RULE BACK THEN SAID YOU CANT RAISE YOUR FOOT AT THE GOALIÈ

[@johnobrien8910]

the best player never to play in a world cup and as good as anybody that did for me they should have took him to the world cup finals 1982 he played great football the year before if picked he would have got himself fit he may have done a rodger miller

[@steffanjennyburrup5801]

I was there guys and it was a goal never touched banks and the ball was out of his hands ....I'm english but that day supported n.ireland....

[@billericaysteve]

I was there too, as an 11-year-old. Goal or not, there were some great players on the pitch that day.

[@brucetrappleton6984]

I think it was a legal goal in regards to the rules back then. Today it wouldn’t stand.

[@pieri62]

which music at the beginning?

[@OllyBockus]

It seems my comment about this has been deleted for no reason. To repeat; The title of this piece is ludicrous- Best didn't ''humiliate'' Banks, he commited a foul against him and was penalised for it.

[@HarmsFootball]

I don't delete comments so I doubt that it got deleted.

[@OllyBockus]

Ok, fair enough, but it has disappeared..

[@davidwallace6031]

Is there any section of the park best didnt play in?

[@alanmctavish4802]

A meant to say. Thats the thing about the true greatest players in the world. Like george best, maradona, pele and beckenbuaer. They can all play in midfield and still be the best player on the park. Becouse they have the drive, skill, vision, two footed, brave, hard, amazing control, not just with the ball but also over there own body, timing, how to slow a game down to walking pace, george did it here a few times and when he made them look daft. And up front well what can you say? Banks waved no goal, so why then did he chase after best like a madman while grabbing at his top to then dive in to save it? But he already knew it wouldnt count, haahaa. Banks couldnt even look up becouse he knew the tv cameras were on him, he just looked down at the ground, even as best walked past him and bobby moore. It was a goal. But not all great forwards can play in midfield the way these guys i mentiond could. Best, maradona and pele were the 3 greatest i have seen!

[@jucaxpto4173]

Great background music too... nice Jazz... Which song is that ?

[@johnlees6019]

Great goal simply the best 😂

[@stephenlever419]

Great music

[@justaroundthecorner2883]

Nothing wrong with Georges goal. Goalkeepers have always been a protected species as far as referees are concerned.

[@johndasilva2686]

100% a goal. Once the ball was thrown in the air it was free.

[@marioz2312]

Not correct. Foul was right decision. Read the rules of the game.

[@gbrinch]

Best a complete two footed player!

[@AllendeEtAl]

I think Georgie was already declining here

[@user-tp3yv4lc4c]

Hardly a humiliation but good on him

[@seefeelsixtynine]

Banks always got protection.. look at Stoke v Arsenal fa cup semi final

[@markheyward9724]

Used to love the home International games, couldn't tell who would win, they were so competitive

[@kevrotherham1350]

Will there ever be another

[@filbertthedilbert1]

It might have been humiliating if he’d pulled Bank’s shorts down. Seriously, if Bestie had been eligible to perform for a nation with a top international team, he might have been regarded in the same light as Pele.

[@mikebell1980]

The greatest player ever.

[@quimito8759]

Cual seria el 11 de irlanda del Norte de todos los tiempos?

[@user-tp3yv4lc4c]

When he came to Ipswich you just wanted to get the ball away from him

[@rtaj247]

What a sublimely skilled player George Best was…. D*mn that ref for disallowing the goal.

[@Alex00789]

Could you do some Glenn Hoddle compilations?

[@HarmsFootball]

I was meaning to, actually, but something got in my way. Thanks for the reminder)

[@Alex00789]

@@HarmsFootball Thanks.

[@kochstevens3210]

That looked a goal to me.. Best was the best(he was the Messi of the 1970' for sure!)

[@gerryquinn8925]

Best ever

[@Smiler7]

Var would have given a goal!

[@nobbygray]

U

[@jeremypearson6852]

Those were the days when you could challenge the goalkeeper. If Best had been English they might have won another WC. He never had a supporting cast in the NI team. Almost like Ronaldo and Portugal.

[@Artiz...]

Bit of advice from an 'oldie' Harms... do your history mate! Best start at the beginning with Francis Peabody Magoun jr and his 'History of Football from the Beginnings to 1871'. Magoun was a deeply influential Harvard Professor in English and Medievel Literature who would never have made the heinous mistake of calling football 'soccer'! His definitive, historic and literal study of 'football' going back to the 8/9th century is a must read for those of us who really should know the authentic history of our beautiful game... old geezer rant over.... & out! Good luck!

[@HarmsFootball]

Well, that was random…

[@Artiz...]

@@HarmsFootball History is not random... it's compulsory! You have a responsibility to the game itself as a content creator regarding the greatest game on Earth... 'know your onions' mate! Far too much fanboy nonsense out there which mocks our beautiful game regarding its total ignorance and irritating clickbait twaddle! If you genuinely love football you should already understand exactly where I am coming from Harms... especially when you frequently look back at classic games and players from the 1970's... as you clearly do... as I said... "Context is Everything"... make sure you know it please! The social/cultural backdrop to this game in 1971 was the killing of the first British soldier in N.I., who was murdered by the IRA a few months earlier on the streets of Belfast... this was the beginning of the troubles and this game was perhaps also a minor catalyst for an ensuing war of unspeakable brutality in Northern Ireland and into England throughout the 70's! 'Humiliation' is therefore probably not the best adjective to use regarding the historic/cultural/social context of this game... Respect before clicks! 'Humiliation' anywhere in your headline is inappropriate and disrespectful!

[@johnpacino007]

@@Artiz... What's with the history lesson? lol Harms only made a 8 minutes comp of George Best 1971 plays against England. He made no non football related, histroical references to the match. As Harms said. It's all a bit random, your comments.

[@Artiz...]

@@johnpacino007 So you are still in Junior school then? Did you comprehend anything that I wrote?

[@johnpacino007]

@@Artiz... Yeah, & it had nothing to do with what actually transpired on the pitch! And please. Stop the patronising tone. As if you're Mr. Superior. I've been watch football from the early 1970s. And i don't carry any " i am so much more informed than the common man" tone.

[@IndieVolken]

establishment v anti-establishment ....

[@dalian1993]

So how did Best "humiliate" Banks ?

[@quimito8759]

Mejores 3 jugadores de la historia de irlanda del Norte?

[@buffon550]

Best es el primero

[@HarmsFootball]

George Best Pat Jennings Danny Blanchflower In my opinion.

[@santhanaraj5863]

George Best had scored a perfect GOAL!! It's a great GOAL .... but was disallowed for no apparent reason by a very incompetent and dumb referee!! Shameful!!

[@JC-tr4gh]

When is suffering a 1-0 defeat a "humiliation" for the opponent...?

[@HarmsFootball]

Well, people still talk about this game... and they're not talking about the score.

[@alanmctavish4802]

This a player who was playing more in midfield as he had to drop back for n,ireland as they wernt that great. And you can see how great a player he is just with the way he controls it then makes a great pass with any foot, his vision and skill and balance was second to none. You can see how great this man is no matter what position he plays in. Hes still the best player on the park. How many players can anyone say that about. Not that many, if any at all. Even up front chasing a long ball then bang goal?, best is better than messi, in the air then bang goal? best still beats messi, in short best is just a better player. All round greatest ever complete player to touch a ball. Messi is no where near a complete player, and he isnt as fast as best was. In full flow messi doesnt come near best. Maradona is the second best i have seen, becouse he too was magic in any position, especialy midfield. Pele comes third but best had more flair, he was harder and braver too. But beckenbauer can play in any position too, but isnt as great as best up front. And for me thats where it stops. But theres nothing better than watching a player thats so good with both feet that you cant even tell wich foot is his natural one, like best. Even at just 25 he looks a bit heavier here and maybe not as fast. Yes he was still the fastest man on the park but he was faster than that. I laughed a peter storey swinging around while holding on to bests top and trying to pull best down with him, and the referee thought that was ok? Mmm. Against england they always have 12 players especialy playing in britain like these old games. Best was getting angry and no wonder, by then he was used to england getting everything, if england had did that goal against big pat it would have been given, and george knew that. George did it 2 weeks later for man utd against spurs and big pat and the goal was given?

[@luciodemeio1]

The playing style of Best was not like Cruyff, Maradona or Pelè. I see him more similar to Garrincha.

[@alanwann9318]

The music is clashing the subject

[@rtaj247]

I know he mainly played in the red of Man United . But didn’t he look great in the green.

[@patrickkelly7085]

He humiliated himself more times than he humiliated his opponents.

[@coys787]

He wasn’t all that. His passing game was poor. Not many EPL teams would play him today.

[@barrypinkerton5685]

It should have stood

[@fredwaller3234]

George wasn't the best he was the greatest ever British player

[@dougfergusson]

Even George Best is/ was not allowed to do that to Banks and England .Think about it World side beaten by little old North Ireland 🙏🤣🤣👶 it was so in those times .Can't beat England .. 🤣🤣🙏☘️💚

[@Resenbrink]

Nice Irish strip.

[@samisami-qb5tl]

Ferenc bene did it bettet against benfica in 75. After his goal by head the uefa changef the rules😂 Up celtics Greeting from hungary

[@rovano926]

Great goal but nothing humiliating about it. Just a click-bait (worked for me)

[@krg1605]

There are those that will always say this was a legitimate goal. And then there are those that actually know the rules! Trust me, as an ex class 1 referee for 10 years, it was an offence and the award of a free kick was correct. No arguments....end of......

[@krg1605]

Wrong on both counts Conan. I suggest you stick to slaying dragons.....

[@CarlosRomero-ey2eh]

England x irelannd????

[@ranob1949]

The goal was valid but where is the "humiliation" of Banks? Best did no wonder dribble or anything to beat the goalie hands down.

[@stevef1525]

Wtf the music ?

[@HarmsFootball]

The sound was missing up until the 26th minute. You can turn it off by pressing "m".

[@rogerengland7692]

When football wasn't about African mercenaries running as fast as they can.

[@g.p616]

A great player… but don’t legends keep going, putting in the gruelling training and lifestyle management to keep playing? Considering his natural talent a slower paced game then he could have/ should have gone on for longer!!

[@maliktintilic6886]

In this video, Best had over 70% incorrect passes, no shots on goal except that irregular goal, unproductive dribbling, and the author talks about humiliating Banks?!

[@johnpacino007]

England mostly always, had the measure of Best. While he was neat & tidy here. He never could pull off against England. Penetrative through ball passes, through the English defence. Or long maruding, ball-carrying dribble runs... Things, the likes of Pelé 1964, Cruyff 1969, 1970, 1977, Maradona 1980, 1986, all did against England. @Harms. Here's a match comp off mines, that shows why Cruyff, starting from 1969, was the world's best player to me:👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJaohoF4l72Mhq8 Cruyff from 1969 to 1978, was on a different level, to any player in that period.

[@Artiz...]

He was pretty damn good John... amazing to watch and another football genius and yet the 'World's Best' is an accolade too far for just one player from the 70's... one of them for sure... but sorting out even a top ten is impossible if you genuinely love this beautiful game... 'different horses for different courses'... defensive/midfield players can only be the World's Best for me being an ex defensive-midfielder throughout my playing career! Glory boys up front never won championships... the midfield generals and the defence did though... and everyone in the team knew it!

[@johnpacino007]

@@Artiz... I was just making a claim about his performance's against England. ( I've watched. 1969,1970, 1971 games). Not about him as a player. Which is a different topic. The matches / years of the games against England from Pelé, Cruyff, Maradona, were better. I've stated many times, that i regard George on just sheer abilities. As the 2nd best European player I've seen, behind Cruyff. I'd certainly rank him over Zidane & Cristiano Ronaldo. But they had better career's.

[@LordFlashheart.11]

​@john pacino As good as Bets was, Zidane and C.Ronaldo are far beyond him. Zidane was on another level entirely. I would be nice to watch George Best, Jimmy Greaves, Netzer, Gerd Muller, Voghts, Beckenbauer, Cruyff play in today's football.

[@johnpacino007]

@@LordFlashheart.11 Zidane couldn't dribble like Best. Cristiano, high tempo, fast athletic- dribble runs in his younger years, is tailor made, for the, more quicker, up tempo moden game, with faster pressing from oppenents. But Best had better close control.

[@Artiz...]

@@johnpacino007 The point I'm making is that puerile Americanism's like The GOAT or even "The World's Best" are claims more associated with childish/fanboy bias and delusion rather than knowledgeable, cogent disussions regarding the genius, glory, graft & evolution involved in 170 years of professional/International football... and the astonishing players who have played it! This truly is the greatest game ever played and the entire world agrees! 'We' will definitely never agree on who was the greatest of them all though... that's for people who do not understand the passion & love of professional world football and have not taken the time to find out either! We grew out of unsubstantiated accolades regarding brilliant football players shortly after leaving junior school... bit like Marvel comic characters... so now we elevate the game in discussions John... get it?