This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
On May 22, 1946, a football legend was born in Northern Ireland. George Best's talent on the pitch was matched only by his celebrity status off it, making him a household name in the late 1960s.
Best's journey to stardom began at Manchester United, where he won league titles in 1965 and 1967. However, it was in 1968 that he emerged as a global star, scoring a brilliant goal in Manchester United's 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica in the European Cup final at Wembley.
At just 22 years old, Best won England's Footballer of the Year and the Ballon d'Or awards in the same year. However, this would prove to be the peak of his achievements, as he never won another major trophy and struggled with alcoholism, which would ultimately lead to his downfall.
Best's drinking problems intensified, and he was only 27 when he left Manchester United, who were on their way to relegation to the second division in 1974. He spent the rest of his career in the United States, interrupted by a less-than-stellar stint with Hibernian in Scotland and his final years featuring the odd game in Hong Kong and Australia.
According to Chelsea's Alan Hudson, Best may have taken a different path in today's era, where players can switch clubs almost on demand. Hudson believes that Best wanted to join Chelsea, but never asked for a transfer, instead hinting at it through his actions.
Best's absence from the World Cup was a source of pain for him, and he was hurt by never playing on the biggest stage. He died in November 2005, aged 59, after a liver transplant.
