Manchester United in cheek and bravery, but Cristiano Ronaldo beats Geaorge Best for goals

March 21, 2008

Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo challenges Bolton Wanderers Matthew Taylor for the ball

Bill Edgar

Seven has been Manchester United fans’ lucky number. Fortunate to have watched George Best when he brought a magic touch to the great Sixties team, they can now marvel at another outrageously talented player in the No 7 shirt.

Best has often been named as the greatest player the United Kingdom has produced, but his standing as United’s best winger may be under threat from Cristiano Ronaldo. By overtaking the Northern Irishman’s record season’s goals tally for a wide man at the club, the Portuguese has prompted comparisons with his famous predecessor beyond mere scoring statistics.

In the space of ten minutes in United’s 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday, Ronaldo equalled and then exceeded the 32 goals that Best scored in all competitions in 1967-68, when the club won the European Cup. If the Continent’s leading club trophy comes to Old Trafford again this year, United will have played another 13 games and, at the present rate, that would mean Ronaldo passing 40 goals.

The two players’ impressive scoring rates have been helped by the fact that neither has been a conventional winger. Just as Best drifted across the front line, the flank is only a nominal position for Ronaldo, particularly this season, when the retirement of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the sale of Alan Smith and the persistent injuries of Louis Saha have led Sir Alex Ferguson regularly to pick a team without an orthodox centre forward.

Wingers have a reputation as fragile creatures, but the description is alien to Best and Ronaldo. Brave and mentally strong, and quick of thought and deed, their last-moment flicks as defenders approach them have drawn kicks as a matter of routine. Best took terrible punishment in the days when referees were lenient, yet he always got up for more.

Ronaldo was only 21 when he returned from the 2006 World Cup finals to widespread hatred across England for his supposed role in the sending-off of Wayne Rooney against Portugal, yet the boos and bile went in one ear and out of the other. Far from cowering in the face of a national onslaught, he rose to such heights that his fellow players and the football writers declared him the player of the following season.

The pair are also linked by impudence. Playing for Northern Ireland against England, Best allowed Gordon Banks to throw the ball in the air in readiness for a clearance, but before the goalkeeper could kick it, the forward diverted the ball away with his toe and headed it into the net, although the referee deemed the effort to be dangerous play. For his part, Ronaldo specialises in crossing the ball by hooking one foot behind the other.

The similarities continue: both are good with each foot, good in the air, even blessed with good looks. There may be a divergence in attitudes, though. While Best’s fondness for the high life resulted in him being sacked twice by United, the second dismissal meaning that he left top-class football at the age of 27, Ronaldo appears to give Ferguson little trouble. Indeed, his steady improvement during his five years at Old Trafford indicate a willingness to ally hard work to his great ability.

One area where Ronaldo has lagged behind Best is in European competition. By Ronaldo’s present age of 23, Best had already enjoyed famous nights in the European Cup, inspiring the 5-1 win away to Benfica in 1966 and starring again as United lifted the trophy two years later by beating the same club in the final. The Portuguese has generally failed to translate his domestic form on to the continental stage, although, given that recent signs have been promising in this respect, the comparisons with Best may soon need updating.

Winning wingers

George Best
League title winner 1965, 1967
European Cup winner 1968
European Footballer of the Year 1968
Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year 1968

Cristiano Ronaldo
League title winner 2007
FA Cup winner 2004
League Cup winner 2006
Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year 2007
PFA Player of the Year 2007
PFA Young Player of the Year 2007

United appearances and goals in all competitions
Best (1963 -74): 474 apps, 180 goals
Ronaldo (2003 - present): 227 apps, 83 goals

Internationals
Best (Northern Ireland): 37 apps, 9 goals
Ronaldo: (Portugal) 57 apps, 20 goals