Left image: Action Images Right image: REUTERS/Peter Powell
George Best held two fellow attackers in high regard during his playing days including a Liverpool icon he viewed at the same level as football's 'most complete player.'
The late Northern Irishman lit up stadiums throughout his career, the ball sticking to his feet while he used his frightening pace and incredible dribbling abilities to break past defences. His balance left fans stunned as he often managed to evade hard tackles before racing through on goal.
There weren't any flaws in the former Manchester United star's game and, as such, he is recognised as one of the most naturally gifted and complete attacking players in history. During this time, he wasn't the only forward earning adoration from footballing fans around the globe and he acknowledged this.
George Best Called His 'Hero' Football's 'Most Complete Player'
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Just as Best had been starting his career, another attacking gem bid farewell to the sport. Alfredo di Stefano retired in 1966 having cemented his legacy as one of the best forwards of all-time.
Di Stefano's peak came at Real Madrid, where he bagged a remarkable 308 goals in 395 games. A total footballer, he thrived in Los Blancos' frontline during a period in which they won five consecutive European Cups.
Best made clear his admiration of Di Stefano when he called him his hero: "The most complete player I ever saw and my hero in those days was Alfredo Di Stefano, the centre-forward, who it seemed to me could do absolutely everything."
Alfredo Di Stefano balancing a ball on his finger
Di Stefano earned the nickname 'the Blonde Arrow' because of his bleach blonde hair and electric speed. It's easy to understand why Best and fans from that time held him in such high regard and his legendary exploits earned him two Ballons d'Or in 1957 and 1959.
Ranked as one of the greatest players in Madrid's history, he formed a lethal frontline with Ferenc Puskas, Raymond Kopa and Francisco Gento. They dominated European football and he served as their deep-lying free-scoring centre-forward.
'Highest Compliment I Can Pay' - Best Also a Dalglish Fan
Kenny Dalglish Liverpool
Kenny Dalglish Liverpool
Best never got the chance to play against the Spaniard and back in England he also missed out on the opportunity to face another frontman he viewed just as complete. Three years after he left Old Trafford in 1974, Kenny Dalglish arrived at Anfield where he'd become Liverpool's 'King Kenny'.
Dalglish possessed a different profile to Di Stefano as he was an elite second striker who used his phenomenal footballing intelligence and physicality to cause havoc to opposition defenders. The iconic Scotsman's hold-up play allowed him to bring others into play and he
"He could score goals, he could defend, he was good in the air, with both feet, exciting to watch, and Kenny [Dalglish], I was going to say is close to him but he's probably on a par with him as far as I'm concerned. For me, that's the highest compliment I can pay Kenny."
Statistics via Transfermarkt
Dalglish spent eight years playing for Liverpool but also earned legendary status at Celtic during his career. His knowledge of the game helped him enter the managerial world after hanging up his boots in 1990.