Sir Bobby Charlton knew a thing or two about great footballers. After all, he's probably the finest player to ever represent Manchester United.
If that wasn't enough, he may well also be England's greatest-ever legend. He was, after all, a key member of the 1966 World Cup-winning side which forever etched itself into Three Lions' folklore.
He was so good, in fact, that his name belongs in the conversation whenever discussing the best players in the entire history of the sport. But which footballers stood out to him as the greatest he ever knew?
Sir Bobby Charlton Raved About Duncan Edwards
"Don’t ask me how much greater he would have become"
In 2011, Sir Bobby spoke in great detail to Jeff Powell in an interview published by the Daily Mail. The Man United legend spoke about one of his former teammates, who was one of 23 who tragically died in the Munich air disaster of 1958.
Emotionally recalling Duncan Edwards, to the point where he could hardly speak at times, he insisted that the Englishman was the best player to ever grace football, ahead of legends such as Pele and Bobby Moore. He said:
"Just a boy. But what a boy. Look at our old team pictures when he was still only 16 and he was already the giant on the end of the row.
"We were England’s pioneers in what used to be the European Cup. The League were against us entering but the Old Man took us in anyway. What they couldn’t believe, either, was that he was going to take on the might of Europe, Real Madrid and all, with a bunch of kids. His Busby Babes.
"Then they saw Duncan. He was already the complete footballer. Mighty in the air. Unbreakable in the tackle. Rampaging tirelessly across the pitch. Perfect first touch followed by raking 40, 50-yard passes with either foot. Unstoppable on the run with the ball. Deadly in front of goal. He was already a colossus.
"Ask me who is the greatest footballer the world has ever seen. Ask me who is the greatest footballer I ever played with. Ask me who is the greatest footballer I ever played against. Same answer: Duncan Edwards. Don’t ask me how much greater he would have become. It defies imagination. What’s bigger than a colossus?
"Think about that. Then remember that I played not only with George [Best] and Denis [Law] but with Bobby Moore. That I played against Pele. They were truly great, but Duncan was the greatest."
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Edwards's Special Career at Old Trafford
The Man Utd legend won back-to-back league titles
Edwards rose through the academy quickly to become a senior player at Man United when he was still just 16. He was only 21 years old when he died, but he'd already left an indelible mark on the pitch for the club.
Despite his age, the versatile defensive midfielder was incredibly strong in the middle of the park and helped the Red Devils win two First Division titles in 1955-56 and 1956-57. He quickly caught the eye, and became England’s youngest post-war player, making his debut at 18 years and 183 days old.
By the time of his tragic death, Edwards had made 175 appearances for the club. He left behind a special legacy, but football fans can only mourn what he would have achieved had it not been for the Munich air disaster.