Simply the Best...
George Best's destruction of mighty Benfica back in 1966 has got to be the best ever individual display in European club football.
Benfica hadn't lost at home in seven years of European football when Manchester United went to the Stadium of Light with a slender 3-2 lead from the first leg.
But within 15 minutes of the game the 19-year-old Best had torn the Benfica defence to shreds. His first goal - a deft looping header - was good enough. His second was sublime. The skinny winger with Beatle haircut weaved his way through the entire Benfica defence to slot the ball past a bemused keeper.
Best continued to torture the home defence as United went on to secure a stunning 5-1 win that resonated around Europe. Best, like Sir Matt Busby's rebuilt side, had arrived on the world stage with a bang.
Two years later they went on to become the first English club to lift the European Cup. But it was on that night in March 1966 that a true star of the global game was born.
As United and Liverpool take on Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto respectively in the Champions League this week, we've been looking at some epic encounters between English and Portuguese sides.
Click here to check out our selection.
George Best - very BEST sportsman!!! I find videos with your games!
Posted by: sportsman | 28 November 2007 at 14:09
just to say you got it right. best was and in my mind better than pele.Best was the world. No1
Posted by: dave | 27 November 2007 at 18:21