Poll: Who is the greatest Manchester United player of all time?

A debate has started on these pages comparing Cristiano Ronaldo to George Best. At the age of 22, Ronaldo is still probably several years from his prime, but many believe he is already the equal of the Belfast genius.

Which made us wonder: who is the greatest Manchester United player of all? Is it one of the two brilliant wingers? Or is it one of the other great names who have worn the famous red, say, Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton or Roy Keane.

The answer, of course, depends on your criteria. Do you judge greatness primarily on talent? Or does longevity play a significant part? And how much importance do you assign to trophies-won? If so, few can beat modern players such as Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, with their cabinet-busting collection of winners' medals.

The best way to decide, surely, is via democratic means. Hence this online poll in which we want you to vote.

To make it more straightforward, we've drawn up a shortlist. Yes, there are few worthy contenders who didn't make the cut  - Peter Schmeichel, Mark Hughes, Dennis Viollet and Tommy Taylor spring to mind - but we're fairly confident this is the first-choice XI.

Be sure to justify your choice in the comment box below.   

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Comments

[vu]

i chose cantona. i know george best is the most talented but i never saw him play and highlights can even make beckham seem almost as talented as best. but i saw cantona play and he's a genious even when standing still with his back facing the opposition. he was so smart, if he had no talent, his footballing brain can help the team win.

i think keano is awesome but i think without cantona, utd would not be a winning team. just like how if we had keane, but never had cantona, i dont' think we'd win as much (but probably win something).

ronaldo is talented, and amazing the last 2 seasons. but i don't see the passion in him like how rooney plays. and he's a whiner, and dives a bit too much for me to be proud of. i respect how he's improved and always credits his team mates. but again, cantona is the reason i supported utd and the reason ferguson was the premiership the first time around.

[Mike]

I was fortunate enough to see Best playing for United and I saw earlier some said that time creates myths. Well as far as Best is concerned there are no myths, he was THAT good.

Actually there is one myth though and its that he didnt fulfill his potential. Well thats just bull. Some people think because he finished with United at 27 that he somehow had a short career. They forget he started at 17.

The trouble is that many many fans can only make their opinions of Best based on footage they see online. A couple of generations now have never seen his genius live and havent experienced the buzz and excitement of every single time he got the ball.

[Lachy Chapman]

I saw George Best on his first appearance for United (I think he subbed before the kick-off because David Herd stubbed his toe in the warm-up) He was fantastic.
Ronaldo now though has eclipsed him - he has everything- skill (at least as good as Best)-speed- he would leave any footballer from the sixties for dead - strength- some of his goals are out of the Wayne Rooney muscle book - height and heading-as good as Dennis Law but 4 inches taller - passing -read Bobby Charlton out of Paul Scholes. I just hope we can keep him in England

[David]

Where is David Beckham on this list? In my view he is the best overall footballer that ever played for Man U.

[elvira]

cristiano ronaldo is the best of the history of man utd

[Owen]

Ryan Giggs is the most talented player that United have seen ever. Best was good, Ronaldo has developed into a fine player but none can equal Giggs.

[Eren]

Best was the most skillful but did not fulfil his potential and may have struggled in the modern game. Ronaldo is an awesome player but has absolutely no respect for United. Cantona was the catalyst but not with us long enough.
Giggs has been a central figure in all of SAF's great teams, has played the most games for us, and won the most trophies. If the EPL was as big in the late 90s as it is now he would have won the Ballon d'Or no doubt. There was a survey of EPL managers in 2000, they were asked which player from another EPL side they would most like to have in their team, 18 said Giggs!
Also, Giggs has the respect for the club and us fans. If he had retired after the treble he would have definitely topped this list.
What truly big games have we won in the last 2 seasons? When have we gone toe to toe with a big opponent and blasted them off the pitch like we used to? SAF knows this team can be great but there is a missing element, Ronaldo will get us goals and take the game to the small teams, but in the big games all I see is self indulgent posturing, if we can get 50mil plus take it, buy a striker and improve the balance of the team, he won't stay around much longer anyway.

[Frank]

It got to be Roy Keane, a real midfield dynamo behind the biggest success Man U ever achieved!

[Andrew Levy]

Personally I find it insulting that anyone thinks Ronaldo is better than George Best however this is a game of opinions. The greatest player to ever wear the red of Manchester United is Best and only shades Edwards just- due to his untimely death.
Yes Ronaldo is the current best player in the world and Lionel Messi may come a close second -no disrespect to these guys as they are the best at the moment but neither are fit to lace George Best's boots and hypothetically if Best played against Ronaldo he would kick lumps out of him -I doubt if Ronaldo would be able to get the ball.

[Satish]

It's an insult that Ronaldo is even on this poll. Probably United haters are all voting for him.

[seba]

I would certainly agree with comment pasted below. Both CR7 and George Best fall into the category of the best player in the world. But both cannot be compared due to the time and circuntances how football are played. Ronaldo has scored 41 goals so far as a winger and has beaten Best's record for scoring the most goals - 41 goals - unbelievable in this day and age. George Best was not playing against some of the best players in the world week in and week out and Ronaldo is as the Premier League is now the best league in the world and it was not so in Best's time. Best was a great player but time creates myths.

[Tony]

Those who were lucky enough to see him are in no doubt - Duncan Edwards. If you doubt it, ask Sir Bobby. He's seen them all, even the likes of Pearson, who won an FA Cup final for Man U in 1948. OK, that shows how old I am, but Edwards was a giant, and not just for the Busby teams. Again, ask Sir Bobby.

[shakil]

how come there is no mention of Eric Cantona...that guy was an absolute legend....

[noel wright]

christiano ronaldo is the best and the way he is playing there is no stopping him.better than cantona,keane, giggs and beckham when they were playing .

[PCM]

Any suggestion that Ronaldo is the greatest player in the world, or is better than the great George Best is way off the mark. We got a close look at him in the recent game against Wigan: He was petulant, complaining, ran at 3-4 players and threw a tantrum when they forced him off the ball. His pathetic tricks wouldn't work so he just gave up. Literally threw his hands up in despair. Compare his poor work rate with the excellent Rooney, Scholes, Park, Roy Keane of recent years or even the late great George best in his day, and you have a good benchmark. All great players have an inherent honesty which requires that they support their team-mates. They also have a great heart, the latter being the most important attribute. Which is why the cheat Maradonna may be one of the most skilfull players we have ever seem but not a great player. Which is why Ronaldo has a long long way to go before he achieves 'greatness'.

[rocny]

got to be cantona! man utd won every season that he played full season in!!! and just before he won with leeds. he started the revolution which sir alex has headed up in premiership

[Mark Donnelly]

for me its Keane. I can only go by players that are of my generation and week in week out for nearly 12 years i watched roy keane destroy uniteds opposition with his energy, his completely underrated ability and his phenomenal organisational skills. The man was simply the perfect captain and was, in my opinion, the crucial factor in united being so succesful throughout the 90's. Sir Alex said himself that hes the best player to ever play under him and i think that surely is all that needs to be known. A player that symbolised everything great about united. Youngsters looking to be pro footballers should look at keane and aspire to have that burning desire and refusal to be second best. There have been players at united with higher technical ability e.g best, cantona, ronaldo, but keane stood for something more. A warrior, a general, an example to the rest, but above all...a winner

[Christian]

Purely because I never got to see most of them in their prime, it has to be Eric Cantona. This man made me love football. The way opposing fans hated him for being so good made you love him even more. The way he loved us back makes his status legendary. No one comes close to his balance of skill and passion for utd.

[bill ball]

Yeap ...Ronaldo plays with a sober head ..all the time!

[Daniel]

The Best Ever.....

Best,
Viollet,
Law,
Edwards,
Charlton,
Cantona,
Ronaldo,
Beckham

[Noel gilroy]

I dont think this can be posed at this time in Christiano's career. Although he is a world apart from any other player in the premiership at the minute, he is still so young and like he said, he can improve so much more.. With regard to who is better.. Its probably impossible to say as the game is so much different now. Defenders now are so much more athletic and intelligent than they were 30 and 40 years ago. The question of 'jedi status' is posed alot in my flat.. And Best is always one that is argued.. Even though im Irish and should show a bit of bias i personally think its debateable, as Best did not play long enough to achieve the status of others such as Péle and Zizou who are unquestionable jedi's. However, with his speed, grace and sheer intelligence he left an unrivaled mark on the game. A mark that players have spent decades trying to replicate so on that basis, can he be seen as a jedi? With regard to Ronaldo, there are still some parts of his game which need to be addressed. The main one is his constant moaning and stopping his run when he gets touched by defenders. This is something that really enrages me as i am both a defender and a Man Utd fan. He thinks that he is above the law and he should dictate whether the ref should give a free kick or not. compare this to George Best and you will see that Best is a clear winner. Best was not concerned about getting kicked, in fact he probably thrived on it as it exposed weakness in defenders. All he was concerned about was scoring and winning and if that was at the price of a leg or two, so be it.. Ronaldo is not like this in any sense, its as if he is afraid to get touched! Thoughts anyone?

[Jon Michael]

Ronaldo has scored 41 goals so far as a winger and has beaten Best's record for scoring the most goals - 41 goals - unbelievable in this day and age. George Best was not playing against some of the best players in the world week in and week out and Ronaldo is as the Premier League is now the best league in the world and it was not so in Best's time. Best was a great player but time creates myths.

[Jamie redface Nic]

cantona, the great Eric, changed the English game when he joined Utd, what he did when he arrived to the team and to the youngsters has gone down in the united history books. There were greats before him and there will be greats after him but the greatest he is......ask the "Stretford end"

[jim ferguson]

To score 41 goals in the best league in the world is an amazing feat especially when all the 'hard men' had tried to destroy him. If he stays for another couple of years he will exceed the formidable reputations of best, cantona,charlton and violett. shmeichel

[David]

As great as Ronaldo is, it's a shame he has to be so arrogant!

He could learn a lot from the great Man U players of the past who had class and humility...i.e. Law, Viollet, Charlton...the list goes on...

The way Ronaldo stops play, because he thinks the referee should call a foul against him, really shows a lack of respect....

[LEO T - LEEDS]

There is no need to make comparisons between players that played at Man U for 15 years, in some cases, to a lad who has barely been playing professional football for 5.
Players in the past have meant so much to United and spent their entire careers there and need mention. Best was never 'as good as he could have been', but 'as good as he was', was nothing like Ronaldo.
Best had skill, Cantona had class, Ronaldo has Everything.

[Dr Moono]

Ronaldo is the greatest at the moment.No doubt about it.

[Bryan]

Ronaldo is a true pro. He doesn't drink, he clearly is an incredible athlete, he has achieved a huge amount already and he's only twenty two. Lets not loose sight of the fact that, other than giggs and scholes all these players have achieved all they ever can in the game, ronaldo has just started. He could be in england for another ten years and still have life left to run the show in madrid. When he gets the ball the excitement that everyone feels is undeniable, as is the fact he is, and if not is certainly will be not only the greatest united player ever but one of the best the earth has ever seen

[Tony]

Shame that Big Dunc never got to fullfill his potential as the debate would have been different. Sir Bob played with and against all the greats and is quoted as saying that Big Dunc was the only player in the world that he felt in Awe of. Think about that, Pele, Eusabio, The Kaiser, Georgie, Garrincha etc etc But Duncan was the greatest he ever saw - Must count for something

[manuel simoes]

Best player ever for Manchester United in the past-George Best.
Best player right now-Cristiano Ronaldo.
George best was more like Messi, Cronaldo is more like Eusebio, best world player in 1966.

[David]

Congrats to the League Champions!!

Ronaldo came up 2 goals short of breaking Dennis Viollet's league goal scoring record....

Now on to Moscow!!

[amir]

its really hard to say but I've got to say its best and cantona thay were the best reds ronaldo could be the best in his prime but that times is still comin probably in 2010 he will be at his best ever or late 2009

[One]

And where is Beck?

[faiza]

Ronaldo is da best player of all time...HES TRUELY AMAZINg!!!...He scored 41 goals in a season....no1 is better than him...plus hes still young...imagine him in a couple of years
xx

[Steve Jacobs]

I am Cristiano Ronaldo's biggest fan, when he arrived at Old Trafford and pundits were saying he was all style, no substance and were condemning his inability to produce a "final product" after all the fancy dribbling and countless stepovers, I argued in his favour, his potential was astronomical and still is; and in the last two or three seasons he has really shown himself to be possibly the most consistently talented player in the world with Kaka and Messi his nearest competitors. But to say that Cristiano Ronaldo is the Greatest Man Utd player of all time is a truly ridicuous statement. He is possibly the most talented player the club and perhaps the world has ever seen, but for all the stepovers, the wicked freekicks, the lightening pace and the entertaining showboating, how many times has he scored unforgettable goals such as Giggs versus Arsenal in the FA cup semi final replay? How many times has he dragged this club to the pinnacle of European football defeating european giants almost single handedly in the fashion of Roy Keane? And then strived for further greatness as Keane did? How many times has he dictated games against the best of the best in the way Paul Scholes has tirelessly done over the last decade plus? Has he ever single handedly torn apart a top European side with his unquestionable dribbling ability la George Best? Will he ever do this (I do not count Roma as a top European club nor do I believe that was a single handed job)? The fact is Cristiano Ronaldo has not yet achieved true greatness, buy his age George Best was already regarded as the greatest player on the planet and was merited with the appropriate accolade. Sir Bobby Robson survived the tragedy of Munich and had returned to guide the club to European glory. Denis Law was proclaimed "King of Old Trafford". Ryan Giggs has served the club most admirably over the years chipping in with the frequent piece of magic in the most important of games. Roy Keane has driven the club to unparelleled success. Until Ronaldo does something special for Utd when they need him most, in a European game against top opposition, he cannot be granted status as a great player. Too often he disappoints on the big stage, against AC Milan in the Champions League he was completely outshone by Kaka and he never truly run the show against Chelsea or Arsenal, which is something all the greats did on a regular basis, Best, Law, Charlton, Scholes, Keane, Giggs, Schmeichel and Cantona. So in my opinion George Best deserves th title the "Greatest Man Utd Player of all time" (I can not really consider a number of players such as Big Dunc as I have only seen short clips of them play). Best, by the age of 22, did everything that Ronaldo does against the Portsmouth's of this world, only Best did it against the Benfica's of that era. Ronaldo can become a true great should he remain at Old Trafford, he is still young and will improve, and perhaps someday he will produce the magical performance we all know he is capable of at the really highest level. We hope...

[Barry Jones]

All these players are "great" players who scored and made many goals that earned United many points towards Championships and cups but for me there is one not mentioned who SAVED more points... Peter surely deserves a mention here somewhere.

[John]

The amount of people failing to mention Roy Keane is shocking. He was the man at the heart of Manchester United's most succesful period. Undoubtedly the greatest; we wouldn't have even been in the Champions league final in 99 if it was not for his efforts in the semi. Ronaldo is far from a great; if we win the league and Champions league this season then a few more league titles in years to come with him contributing significantly then people can start to talk about greatness.

[Simon T]

It's all romanticism, Cantona and best stand out for me in the past, (having only seen the former play) but it will always be with rose-tinted glasses that we rate them. I hear a lot of people going on about Ronaldo's diving and "showboating"; but these are parts of the modern game that he is no more a culprit of than the whiter than white Stevie G. Cantona cost us an entire season with his temper and George was a disgrace by the end of his career, nothing more than a drunk. Yet here we have this 6ft 2 23 year old boy who, in the words of Paul Jewell, is as "brave as a lion" he can head the ball, shrug off defenders, has the skills to leave them with twisted blood. He can shoot from range, finish impeccably, and most importantly he plays for the team, something no 30 goal a season player has done or ever will do.

In terms of "ability" Best and Maradona were the greatest of all time, and we saw a player in that mould when Lionel Messi came to OT and did absolutely nothing, marked out of the game easily by Brown covering Patrice he hadn't the pace to get past both nor the brain to realise he wouldn't. Ronaldo may not move as fulidly as those players, nor will he look as good going past people, but by injecting athleticism and pace into the equation he has become what none of the above were- Unstoppable. 40 goals acting as proof.

In short, Ronaldo is the greatest player to ever touch English soil, and if he has the perfect summer he will be the greatest of all time.

[Andy Fedrick]

I think it is safe to say that right now Ronaldo is the worlds best player, but will that success and genius carry on for seasons to come? To be crowned the greatest Man Utd player of all time you must have set such a high standard of skill, pedigree and consistancy to set a bench mark for others to aspire too. Sir Bobby Charlton has to be of that ilk and his loyalty has remained post his playing days.

[David]

To single out one player is impossible. But I can name the TOP FIVE greatest Reds.

1. Best
2. Viollet
3. Law
4. Edwards
5. Charlton

[BOV]

This topic is about GREATEST player not BEST player. Best, Cantona or even Ronaldo may be a better player than Sir Bob but this man played for United almost two decades. Cantona changed United but he played only 5 years and Ronaldo, he's one of best players in the world now but he's on the way to Real Madrid ! I don't think he'll be at the club forever. So Sir BoB, the man who was on the plane at Munich and was on the pitch when Busby lifed European Trophy for the 1st time is alway GREATEST.

[Simon Cotton]

George Best: Not just the greatest player Manchester United ever had, but the greatest player the world has ever seen.
Black and white and then the early colour TV screening on "Match Of The Day" free televised, first division football of 40 years ago fades the memories.

[Sattwick]

It's true that it's very difficult to judge the greats from different eras.How can one compare Sir Bobby Charlton,Cantona,Giggsy,Scholesy,Keano and Ronny ? However in terms of impacts they have had on the club, fans and opponents I would place Roy Keane,Giggs,Cantona,and Sir Bobby Charlton at the top. Roy Keane was surely one of the best for being this talismanic and ever-inspiring leader who could inject passion,never-say die spirit and steel into the players !!! He was simply awesome !!! Ronaldo has been in the club for three to four years and surely has the skill, the talent and attitude to become one of the Greatest and a Man Utd legend !!! However at the moment he has not been in the club for long and it's premature to place him in the pantheon of the Manchester United legends.

[Rajan]

Everyone seems to have forgotten that the Ferguson-era was going no-where until a certain Eric Cantona appeared at Old Trafford. His arrival unleashed a confidence and a swagger that was to lead them to a whole host of trophies. Without him, it appears unlikely that United would have experienced all this success. He gave United the self-belief, that enabled it to cross the line between being a good side and eternal greatness.

For me the sun continues to rise and set with Eric Cantona (with Roy Keane in close second).

[Jacky]

RONALDO ALL THE WAY!! best player in the world

[paul malkin]

he carried onto the pitch the constant threat of the incredible.Watch Chopper try to stop him,would Christiano have stayed up?If you know football.you know its Best.

[mohsin ijaz]

When discussing who the BEST player for man utd. You look for individual brilliance. im ony 28 years old, but looking at the clips of Best, he way ahead of his time...way ahead. Cantona had that brilliance, and surly Ronaldo will claim that accolade very soon, if not sooner....IF man utd win the leage and champions league and gets voted world player of year..he hasnt even peaked yet......he will be the greatest. Goerge Best still gets my vote for now.

[john pownall]

Ronaldo has got to do it in the big European matches against the best defenders. Best did, time and again in the sixties, though not in the seventies. True, the game has changed, but players play at the fitness level required, and Best would have florished in a world where defenders give respect to attackers, and referees protect them.
Also, nobody mentions Rooney.To my mind, Rooney is a great player too, and he is vital to United's success.
In terms of the list of greats...we're forgetting:-
Mark Hughes, Norman Whiteside,Steve Coppell,Peter Schmeichel,Roy Keane,Ole Gunner Solksjaer,Andy Cole,Teddy Sheringham,Willie Morgan,Alex Stepney,Ray Wilkins,Nobby Stiles,Tommy Taylor,Bill Foulkes,Stuart Pearson,Martin Buchan...the list goes on.

[james]

absolutely hilarious and expected that you get the plastics and the new-age lot on here shocked and shamed by the non-inclusion of their all-time hero,"becks".Do they similary go on music personality all-time polls and enquire full of puzzlement why there is no option to cast their vote for james Blunt?Simply wonderful.

[bill ball]

George Best was a very good player in his days. In today's football pace and demand he could not last 30 minutes, never mine 90!
Putting Ronaldo at his level is nothing but an insult to a player that works so hard to be at the top level he is today!

[sunny66]

where is the name of Ruud Van Nistelrooy?? I think he is the best of them all out there

[Max ex. Pat]

It is amazing to me that Becks and the Dutchman are not on this list. Jealousy perhaps? Beckham was the best at his position ever. He set the ball up for everyone else to look so good.
Best versus Ronaldo? Come on.... Ronaldo wpuld go down if my 6-year old daughter tackled him. Best was a complete stud of the game (remember the bets he had to play only with his left foot, and still scored 3 goals...?),
Ronaldo is an amazing talent, but his showboating and diving makes me sick. Best was a true all around player. The only people voting for Ronaldo over Best must be under 30 years old...

[Matty]

It is difficult directly compare todays players with those from previous generations because the game is so different now. I look at it more of what the players achieved at the time.

From that Best has to be first followed by Roy Keane. Ronaldo has the potential to get up there with them (as did Edwards) but he definitely isn't there yet.

[cristiano renalda]

i lov cristiano renaldo because he is a good football player and he is nearly the same as my name just mist bye 1 letter

[THE LONDONER]

Ruud van Nistelrooy! How has ManU forgotten about him so quickly??

[Ann]

I've only started to watch football since "discovering" Christiano, and now we are glued to the TV everytime he's playing. What an artist, and not bad looking too. For converting a non-football fan I think he deserves my vote.

[THE LONDONER]

Ruud van Nistelrooy of course! How has ManU forgotten about this fantastic forward to quickly?

[Iain mott]

George Best.

I get fed up with these debates. When talking about the greatest ever player, I mean in all football, you start with Pele, Maradona and Best, then discuss the rest.
So Utd's greatest ever player was Best. Don't just take my word for it, Pele thought Best was the greatest ever player.

[Deepak]

Best magic. Best player. Best team. Best fun to watch. Best sportsman. Best thrills. Best .... sorry, what was the question?

[G Young]

Best vs Ronaldo? You can judge it purely on football skills if you'd like - but a quick search for 'Ronaldo+Dive' on Youtube pretty much clarifies which one was the better man :)

As a role model, let alone a sportsman, Ronaldo is an utter embarrasment to the game.

[Alonso]

Where's David Beckham. His work on the wing was the main reason united won the TREBLE. Has that ever been equalled?

[David Thompson]

There can only be one answer to this question and that is Duncan Edwards. It is impossible even to imagine a better footballer.

[Keshava]

Giggs is my favourite - he has it all in terms of skill, attitude, passion and achievement. Only in terms of starpower, he is probably underrated. I agree when someone suggested Schmeichel should be should have been on this list. Am also wondering why Becks is not here.

[Daniel Traiber]

1st place..Viollet, Best and Edwards...2nd place, Law...3rd place, Charlton,Giggs, and Cantona...4th, Robson, Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo

[Roy Pinney]

Sad to see that in a poll to identify the best United player of all time, some of your contributors just can't help venting their anti-Chelsea views (totally irrelevant to the topic in hand).

While it is easy to hark back to the mythical 1960s and 1970s as an era of "artistry and bravado", jumpers for goalposts etc, the reality is perhaps more prosaic - Don Revie's Leeds for example? Or the Liverpool sides of the 1970s, whose speciality was the drab 1-0 win? All the more reason to celebrate those players - a minority even then - who stood out for their flair and skill. For United, George Best and Denis Law stand out for me, as well as Bobby Charlton.

Out of the Ferguson era, I would single out Cantona and Ronaldo - however, if they are still being discussed in thirty years time season, then they will have the right to be considered in the same bracket as Best, Law and Charlton.

[Daniel Traiber]

Viollet, Best, and Edwards!!
The three greatest ever! Doesn't look like Ronaldo is going to break Viollet's league goal scoring record...which has stood for 50 years!!!

[paul bonar]

cantona

[Ana]

Cristiano inspires the youth of today as he clearly displays that age does not determin the significance of your impact on the game. i think that in time he will be come the greatest but as for now we all need to let him grow as both a person as a player. he is a great player but let us not place restrictions on him by naming him the greatest now, let us encourage him to be the greatest he can be.

[Micky]

In their prime I would say Best and Giggs are on par. In the last couple of seasons Ronaldo has been doing some of the things Giggs was doing at his age. Scholes is just magnificent. Still is at 33. He is probably the model of what a midfielder should be now. Bobby Charlton was sensational. Law was a good goal hound. But comparing football of back then to now is hard. The game is better to watch, players and stronger and the game is much, much faster.

Giggs has it over everyone in matter of trophies, which everyone aspires to do. Best was the first superstar and no one then could do what he did. Ronaldo will just get better. Keane was no BS, he just wanted to win the ball and make sure the team won.

Edwards was the best player Charlton ever saw, and he has to be rated a mention. Anyone of Bobby's standing to say that has to be believed. Cantona was the catalyst for what we see at United today.

But this says it all:
Pele good, Maradona better, George Best

[JASON WATERS]

I am a big fan of Ronaldo, and I am blown away by his ever improving performances, but he has only been at United for 4/5 years. Don't get me wrong, he really does have the potential to be United's best ever, but time will tell.

As for the current debate, i've got to go with Roy Keane. The Treble winning season showed the character of a true captain, a true champion. I believe he was the best player of his generation. His determination to succeed was second to none, losing was not an option. One picture that will stick in my mind forever, seeing United in a classic European night, Champions League semi final second leg against Juventus in Turin, 2-0 down, a Beckham corner and Keane's commanding header got United back on track, and obviously went on to win 3-2. I was simply shocked there was even a debate over who was better Keane or Vieira. No contest, Keane every time. Even with his temper, he kept the team going, never say die attitude, huge amounts of respect for him, a true United legend. He is United's player of all time.

[K UK]

What about Schmeichel? May not be the best...but deserves to be in the list at the very least.

[Lurker]

I think Owen "The Cougar" Hargreaves has the ability to surpass Robson and Keane and one day be recognised as United's greatest ever midfield player.

[Claire]

In terms of influencing a team to do well and leading them to success, it has to be Best. Keane & Cantona were also good at this, and Ronaldo could get there too. But Best was the main man. Robbo was Captain Fantastic but too many injuries and little team success during his time counts against him.

[Phiol Brown]

Both Best and Ronaldo are quicker and more then nimble than the defenders they played(ed ) against , so it'
s relative. The true greats make things happen every match, quietly do the graft, motivate, remain loyal . Got to be Keano

[peterson]

George Best, no question for me. With all his problems, his small size, the drink, partying, and late hours, I think he could still run circles around Ronaldo today. And just imagine how much better someone of Best's talent could do in today's game, given the superior pitch quality, lighter balls, the better nutrition and fitness afforded the players, as well as the handlers they all have treating them like little girls and advising them about the temptations of life. Best had no one to watch after him or advise him, he was left to his own devices after the matches, fitness exercises and training practices were pathetic, they were even expected to eat heavy steak dinners before a game! And Best still transcended it all, never dived, took every challenge as a dare, and unlike Ronaldo, Best, fearless, never whinged like a spoiled child about the defenders who were out to murder him.

[colin grayson]

you can only be the best in your time , but for me it has to be THE Best ....never before or since seen anyone who could make top defenders look like carthorses ; if only the referees had applied the rules in those days !!!

[RAY GATT]

I would suggest that whoever comments includes date of birth as from most comments here one can tell that a lot of you are too young to remember Bestie let alone comment and make distinction between George and Cristiano. It would be very unfair on George. One thing I'm sure of. If Ronaldo was playing in the days when George played, one tackle and he would be off the field with the impact. That's how hard defenders were in those days and George just kept running circles and dribbling past them. Even the uneven pitch made it harder in those days for players of George's abilities. GEORGE ANYTIME

[ted]

For me it has to be Ryan Giggs-he has played week in, week out, to the highest level, for years. The true backbone of the team, allied with tremendous talent and flair. What about the semi final goal against Arsenal? And then who was racing back last night into his own corner to snuff out an attack-the same player. Probably the best, and most consistent player, the Premier League has seen, and to me, is tremendously under-rated.

[Manni]

In order, Best, Keane, Edwards, Cantona and Giggs. I have been a United supporter since 1989 and have seen players from before then. These five epitomised the
United spirit, something that went beyond skill and ability. Inspiration. They inspired others around them beyond natural ability. Remember Cantona coming back from his nine month ban to lead 'kids' in 1996? Or Keane clawing United back from the dead in Turin in 1999 even though he wouldn't be eligible to play in the final? Best in 1968? Nuff said. In the current team Ronaldo has obviously performed excellently but his United career is still too short to start making declarations of legend. His greatest asset is his speed from which everything else seems to stem from; quick feet, quick bursts, quick dribbles...He is exceptionally quick, but certain schools of thought feel he still has a way to go. l just hope we never have to see him come back from a couple of hamstring injuries, what might be left to offer when the speed is gone....?

[henry moss]

Best was the bravest and best.

In his day he didn't get the protection that Ronaldo gets from the referees now days.

How would Ronaldo have coped with Tommy Smith, Ron Harris, Peter Storey and Norman Hunter for a start?

what would fergie think..would he change his current squad for a law,best, cantona...?,,,,,,if anybody knows the best squad its the wee ibrox diehard.....

[ali]

surley the most GIFTED player the world have ever seen George Best and only George Best who stands against those days ruthless defence if he has played world cup then surley better than pele But at the Moment George Best and Pele Equal Maradona 2 So Who is this C Ronaldo i bet he will not be better than Ronaldinhio

[lee]

In my opinion all of these players are legends for man utd but Roy Keane stands above them all. As Sir Alex said "players like Cantona win you games but Roy Keane wins you championships" that is why he was always the first name on the sheet.

what about ole ?

ronaldo is carrying a manchester united team that is facing the toughest opposition in chelsea, arsenal and liverpool that they have faced in many years.

[David]

Have you stopped watching Man United games? Because Ronaldo doesn't dive any more. He used to do it when he was 19!! It seems like you don't see soccer since 2006! Oh well, I think that he's always going to be known like a diver.
I don't know who is Man United's best player ever. But I trust in Ferguson when he says that Ronaldo has all that it takes to be the one. After all he's Man United boss!

[bill ball]

Should there be any question?

Best played in a time where he had to face defenders most of them being construcion workers, farmers, shoemakers, taxi drivers etc. etc,.
-plus everybody knows those were the days of sex, drugs and rock and roll...I doubt very much that Best with his life style could have a place in todays United team, so therefore comparing him to Ronaldo
it,s nothing but very poor taste.
There, s only one Cristiano Ronaldo!

[Benny]

wow! it couldn't get any harder. well if was to chose, it would definately be christiano ronaldo. But i not sure.well im sorry to say George Best wouldn't spring in mind as i wasn't alive and living in that generation. Eric Catona was but his lack of self-desipline was very poor and did cost the club during his suspension. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes definately legends but there talent is wearing out. david beckham should have been an option but he lacked loyality to the club. ronaldo definately united's best signings and talent. he is very adaptable which can be seen as he is currently top goalscorer in seaseon 07/08. scoring more goals than rooney lol. poor rooney it's not his season. lol

[tayeb]

Ronaldo in recent years because he has already surpassed bests record.

[naeem]

where's eric djemba djemba?

[Ravindra]

Kinda interesting top three are United's number seven....

of all the player I have watched playing, whether it was Ole, Eric the King, Keano, Giggsy, Ginger Prince, Becks, Schemeichel... and many more of SAF's era....I wasn't born before that :p

In my onpinion Cantona stand out taller than everyone else... Great Dan next to him and my fav Giggsy third....but surely I see Ronaldo and Rooney eclipsing lot of United greats[:P]

and how I wish ...about a chance to watch likes of Law, Tommy Taylor, Duncan Edwards, Charlton and all

[MH]

"Ronaldo has never performed gainst a top team and niehter diod Cantona."

ronaldo has performed against Ac milan, lyon, liverpool, arsenal and roma etc

and you say ronaldo never performs?
He usually has 3-4 players on him at nearly all times. That shows he is a major danger to the opposition.

On cantona. You haven't seen many games he has played in have you?
did you see the match when playing against liverpool in the final back in the nineties?

I think roy keane is the best player at utd because of his incredible leadership skills and motivation

[Furrid]

Ronaldo without a doubt, what he has become and what he's going to become. He is United's best investment. At the rate he's going, he capable of eclipsing the other greats.
His presence on the Man Utd team benefits his teamates, because he's match winner quality. When u compare the magnititude of his performances with the rest of the greats and the age ratio; You'll be awed, he's so young.

[Jimmy]

Ryan Giggs by a mile. He has been on top for ages & he will still be there for a few more years. He is still one of the best left wings in the world & before I forget, how many trophies he has?

[Steve]

Ive got a DVD of George Best he looks good but the defenders all seem to ground very early and predictably. The defenders looked a lot slower than they are today. Charlton looked better on the dvds because he seems to be everywhere and hitting unstoppable shots after running the full length of the pitch ankle deep in mud. He also catches the eye more in old clips that include Duncan Edwards. Probably Ronaldo is the most skillfull but I prefer Charlton.

I don't think that Cristiano Ronaldo is United's greatest player ever, although he could be when we all look back in 2 decades time... But people forget Duncan dwards to freely, Edwards was mammoth of a man, and a gladiator out on the pitch... If you wnat to look at commitment to the club, you would have to say that bobby Charlton or Ryan Giggs would be the United's greatest ever player... For skill you could say George Best or Eric Cantona, for drive and the ability to inspire, Roger Byrne, Bill Foulkes or Roy Keane.

Personally, I would say the greatest eve rplayer is George Best... The man was just one of a kind... Truly an equal to the Peles and Mardonnas off this world...

[Fred Brough]

In all polls in all subjects carisma will beat talent. But not on the field as Brian Clough showed. He won titles with players that few rated. So choose between the dazzle brigade and the match winners.

[Dave]

Best every time. He went out for every game knowing he was going to be kicked in to the air by homicidal defenders without any protection from the referees. Ronaldo only has to be breathed on to fall over. He wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes against the likes of Norman Hunter and Ron Harris. One can only imagine what Best could have achieved in the current game given the lack of physical contact that is allowed.

[richard boyce]

Ryan Giggs

The debate is best United player, not best player at a peak.

He's won the most medals.
He's played in three or four different evolutions of the United team.
He committed his whole career to United.

[Jack-Brittania]

what, no David Beckham ???

[Alex]

I would love to say Ronaldo but realistically two seasons of brilliance so far commpared to say the long career of Bobby Charlton, for me despite not being around in his era i feel what he offered and continues to offer to United makes him worthy of Uniteds greatest player, great commitment, leadership, ability and what a role model for todays footballers..

Alex ,20.

[James]

King Eric in my era.

And gone but never forgotten, Teddy and Ole!

[Ken Wroe]

At 66 I have seen most of the united greats, bobby,georgie,eric,ronaldo,denis etc but believe me there was none to compare with Duncan edwards, just ask Bobby Charlton who was the greatest player he has ever seen and he won't even think about it he will say without hesitation Duncan. He was awesome the complete player and to those who remember the great man when they think of him it will bring a lump to their throat.

[Ken Wroe]

At 66 I have seen most of the united greats, bobby,georgie,eric,ronaldo,denis etc but believe me there was none to compare with Duncan edwards, just ask Bobby Charlton who was the greatest player he has ever seen and he won't even think about it he will say without hesitation Duncan. He was awesome the complete player and to those who remember the great man when they think of him it will bring a lump to their throat.

[Andy]

Greatest. Thats open to interpretation and therefore several candidates could be on the list. Giggs for his trophys, best for his brilliance, eric for his audacity, Ole for sticking his foot out and securing the treble, duncan edwards for the awe he inspires in everyone who remembers him. Mine is only one opinion and worth no more than anyone else. My vote goes to Norman Whiteside. I was a kid growing up in the 80's at a time when Liverpool were kings but Whiteside refused to bow. And he refused in style. Loads better at football but none greater in my book. My head would vote best or eric but my heart will forever be 15 years old and vote Norman.

[Kyle Marcus]

To put Scholes and Giggs on the list and NOT include Dennis Viollet is a disgrace!!!!! Have you looked at Viollet's goal scoring average(goals per game)...far superior to Charlton, or Best...why is this man so under rated!!!

[nick sanchez]

i can go as far back as cantona...im only 22, so my list is shorter, ronaldo is the best on ability alone, he has it all. goals, runs, assists, two footed, headers and every now and then the odd decent tackle. but its not all down to tricks and ability, ronaldo will have to stay there long enought to be thought of as a united player through and through, and then maybe he can claim 'the best ever' title. cantona, giggs, keane, scholes, even beckham (till this day you can see what united means to him) have that on ronaldo. all the players named would do anything and everything for united and thats what makes them 'our legends', as you can see no ruud mention and yet he is second to law in goals scored in a season. cantona gave united flair and passion and without him, we would not be what we are, keane carried that on. scholes and giggs profesionalism is something to shout about too, and thier skill is is unique. i wonder if ronaldo would still be speeding past players at the age of 34 and smaking balls so accuratly too. waighing out the options id put Cantona first, Keano 2nd, Ronaldo 3rd, but bare in mind this is from 1993 onwards. p.s. i cant belive peter schmeical has not been mentioned, no doubt the best goalkeeper united have ever had, we still havent replaced him and its coming up to 10 years since we last saw him in a united shirt!!

[Jay]

all you youngsters are talking nonsense but its understandable ..you have never seen anything pre-cantona .. so give a little will you .. the old'uns have witnessed both era's (post and pre cantona) and we appreciate the changes in the game as well ... its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. You can discount ronaldo's ability with free kicks as we all know compared to the brick they used to play with, its a redundant argument. The same for technique .. theres a technique in the modern game now that never existed pre cantona .. waiting for the challenge and timing your fall. Thats not to decry Ronaldo as he truly does stand head and shoulders above everyone else ... in the current game. Pele was good, Maradona was great ... but George was Best.

[Ken Noble]

I remember watching George Best live as a teenager. He had all sorts of skills and tricks that you don't see in the comparatively few TV clips of him playing that get shown and re-shown on the TV. I have a vivid memory of him pulling the ball backwards with his feet just as two defenders rushed in to tackle him. The result was that they knocked each other over! On another occasion he ran almost the length of the touchline heading the ball all the way - he must have been murder to play against. I was present at one match where he scored six, one directly from a corner kick - the ball swerved at the last minute and left the goalie stranded. I don't know whether he was as fit as Ronaldo but he was a player of his time. He had balance and grace and was deceptively fast. I think that he was 10% better than Ronaldo is now - and certainly more exciting to watch. But Ronaldo may improve.
I would put Sir Bobby Charlton third and Cantona 4th. Duncan Edwards clearly had immense talents but they were never allowed to develop fully. I would put Denis Law on a par with Ruud van Nistelroy... both great strikers but possibly not having the variety of skills to make it to the very top.

[Tom C. Manchester]

You just can't say who is 'The Best' ever at Manchester United, All the greats are the best in their own right..
There's only one..
*Duncan Edwards..
*George Best
*Bobby Charlton
*Denis Law
*Tommy Taylor
*Cristiano Ronaldo

etc, etc...

Don't keep trying to compare, just enjoy watching them for 'WHO THEY ARE/Were'..

The Beauty IS...... They play/Played for Manchester United..

And if they all played in the same team.? Mouthwatering hey! :-)

[Muhammad Maklet Khan]

THOSE days tackling was not that much stricked GEORGE BEST was the Greatest player in the history Equly Great as Pele but better than MARADONA

[Muhammad Maklet Khan]

are you crazy there is only one GEORGE BEST.who is ronaldo who is cantana he was equaly great as PELE.PELE and GEORGE BEST DAYS were very hard.TACKLING rules were not stricked watch George Best videos on YOUTUBE AND WATCH THE DIFFRENCE.

[Hunter]

I have been a United follower for 20 years and yes Ronaldo is unique but Giggsy is unmatched much like Maldini. No other left winger has been so deadly for that long a time. Fans today rave about a player after 3 good seasons but Giggsy has been consistent for over 10.

[vmelo]

You really can't do a survey of the greatest Manchester United player of all time with nomenees still on the active roster; more specifically Cristiano Ronaldo who is only 22 years of age. vm (usa)

[VP]

Ronaldo's skill is equal to that of Best and he is only 23. Furthermore anyone who has watches Ronaldo at the game cannot deny that the grace with which he carries the ball, the skill and precision of his feet makes football look like an art form, he has the meticulousness of a ballet dancer coupled with the impressive skill of Best, given that he has this whilst in his youth, thus at his prime he has already beaten every other footballer

[James Johnston,Dublin,Ireland]

Georgie was simply the best. He was very difficult to shake off the ball and almost never went down. He was usually gone before the tackles arrived!

[Tee Mak]

When i look at clips of Goerge Best i see a player who could effortlessly go past players and his balance is the best i've seen. However i can't help thinking that he was a rather 'scrappy'. The way he striked a ball wasn't always clean and true, and he just didn't seem as graceful on the ball as say Ronaldo can do at times. Think back to the times of Zidane or Maradona and see how poetic their movements are (they almost move like they are ballet dancers) whereas Best moved like a Yorkshire Terrier.

[Si Clayton]

You dont know where your going, until you know where you have been. It is simple hard to point out a sole great many greats for different reasons. It easy to say Ronaldo but you have to understand and remember how ball has changed since Best, ie heavier. I very much doubt Ronaldo would hit a freekick with a ball from 60s/70s. However my personal favourite who is by far the most under rated player in the history of this game purely because he isnt in the public eye week in week out is Paul Scholes.

[Caj]

Best played on what one can only describe as mud fields in winter....the pitches of todays Prem games are like velvet tables by comparison. He was skill and he would'nt go down.

[Mike Riordan]

How can you say Ronaldo goes missing in big games? He scored twice against Roma last year, scored against AC Milan, has scored several goals against Arsenal, got the winner against Lyon when we were struggling at home last month, then he scored against Liverpool, he also has a great record against England... He doesn't have to go on amazing long runs and doing step overs to do the things that matter, against teams where he is heavily marked he can't demand the ball as his team mates are often benefiting from the fact he attracts more markers. He learns more about the game every year, come the age of 27/28 I think he will generally be regarded as one of the worlds greatest 10 players ever, he has the potential to be the very best.

[David]

Bobby Charlton spent most of his career there, however good the others have been or will be there i think when u look back at his service and what they won while he was there (club and country infact) the others have alot to achieve yet.

[Luke the Gooner]

I'm an Arsenal fan and my vote was for Cantona. Never saw Best etc. as I'm too young (God typing that felt good). For impact on a team Cantona was and remains unsurpassed - ManU wouldn't be waht they are now if it weren't for him.

Interesting that almost all those who voted for him seem not to support ManU.

[Sean]

Anyone who says Cristiano Ronaldo does not perform in the big games is stupid!!! what did Jose say, "it takes four or five players to stop him". With Ronaldo being on the field in the big games it allows others to play, for example Ronaldo receives special treatment which then allows Rooney, Tevez, Anderson more room to play and 34 goals that is just incredible. His freekicks are awesome and if you have not watched him live then i would say do, even friends of mine who personally despise Ronaldo due to his past and the pure envy of him have given into when they watched him live to saying he is the best player in the world. As for comparisons i don't no if that is possible and not winning the champions league does not just depend on you but the team with you and your opponenets. As for everyone i would just watch in amazement as we are seeing one of the best players to play in this country. He is a pure genius. Cmon Ronnie

[Fasil]

I don't know the personal records of the rest of the players except,Keane,Cantona,scholes ,Giggs and Ronaldo.I love all of them but Ronaldo is unique.I really love the guy,but I must also advise him to stop his childish acts.As a best player of the season he must act in a decent way.Too much cry and act is for those who have no future confidence on themselves.If Ronaldo cools down during scoring he will win the heart of every body.But no doubt that he is the best of bests in our time.
Fasil

[A Walton]

I have seen Best play and in his prime the only way to stop him, was to kick him. The finest player I have ever seen. He had the lot. Defenders are starting to read Ronaldo, and with the ball now designed to score more goals you cannot compare records.
How Best played week in week out, with all the kicks he received from the dirties players ever in the game: I still don't really know.

My vote is based on modern-day football as we know it, it's wrong to compare a player half a century ago with someone like Ronaldo.

However, in terms of what an individual did for the club, it is Eric Cantona who gave Manchester United its international appeal, the "bad-ass" image, winning mentality and never-say-die attitude. Not only was he a skillful player who scored at crucial moments, but in terms of what he did for the team, the club, he made Manchester United into a team that people loved to watch and support, and this ultimately made people from oustide England notice the team before "Beckham-mania" made United the most hated club in the UK.

On top of that, he retired at the right moment, meaning at his peak, which is a rare quality that only few sportsmen have, let alone human beings.

Whats more, Cantona is respected by fans of other rival clubs who hate United.

Nuff Said! CANTONA is the greatest player to have played under SAF hands down. Duncan Edwards and George Best played in a different era, the dynamics of the game were too different than now to compare...

[Gus]

Ronaldo definitely... i love all the other players listed. They're great!!
But the things Ronaldo did, and is doing right NOW... it's almost impossible in this times. There isn't a player anywhere in the world, who did or is doing what is doing right now in manutd. The Premier league is the best in the world, is a winger, not a forward... is breaking a lot of records... damn, is really the best!!!

[Mick]

The game has changed a lot since the fifties and sixties so comparisons are difficult but 3 United players stand out, Duncan Edwards,George Best and Ronaldo. All trained in modern techniques would be the only way of finding out.

[weeble]

I'm old enough to have seen Best play and have to say he was the best player I ever saw. Giggs isn't fit to lace Best's drinks.

[Stanley Kenner]

Maybe Ronaldo is a faster runner. George Best was faster in the speed of thought. Best could calculate a microsecond in advance where a defender was moving and execute a last moment dummy to leave the defender for dead. In carrying out this skill on thousands of occasions, George Best was simply the best. Ronaldo has never come close.

[Linda Galeozzie]

I think George Best was the greatest player ever, we will never see that again, Ron comes close.

There is One George Best!!!!!!!

[Dean Fairchild]

My favourite united player of all time is scholes for his pure class, but the modern Ferguson dynisty is built on the back of Cantona. He may not have performed in europe like some of the other greats but uniteds revival and success for the last 15 years is built on his strutting shoulders, he helped ferguson turn united into the biggest club in the world and for that reason he must be considered the greatest. Long live the King.

[Chris]

Ronaldo may have scored 30+ goals but this is partly because the current United side have no out-and-out goal scorer. If he'd had to compete with the likes of Denis Law (or van Nistelrooy) for goal chances he wouldn't have scored so many. I think Ronaldo's a wonderful player but Best is still the greatest - he's up there with Maradona as potentially the greatest of all time.

[Martyn]

It completely understandable that the Manchester United supporters of the George Best era will vote for this player but it has been widely acknowledged that every aspect of modern football is much faster, more technical and is superior to the game of the 60's and 70's.
Ronaldo still has a lot to prove and although he is absent in the big matches, I have no doubt this will change and he will become the best in the world.
In the modern game, one man influenced the resurgence of Manchester United and set the tone for all that followed and that is of course Eric Cantona. He was charismatic and influential & no one before him or after him (to date) has been as inspirational.
Cantona was as complete all round natural player that has ever played for Manchester United and George Best, regardless of the older generation supporters views, cannot come close to Cantona's ability. Period.

[Sam]

Hard one (not hard on) this is.... if it's a vote for skill then it's completely up in the air, if it's a vote for the biggest influence on a man utd team, again, hard to call. My vote for best player to have ever played for man utd is based on skill, games played, attitude on and off the pitch goes to Ryan Giggs, i cant think of a better player ever to have played at any football club (btw, i first watched man utd when I was 5....1966, saw best/law/charlton)

[John]

It's difficult to compare Ronaldo and Best. It's very obvious that the game is much more difficult now than it was in Best's days. Defenders are quicker, much more physical and the contact is more fierce.

The degree of improvement Ronaldo has demonstrated over the past 4 years is phenomenal. He has 33 goals already and he still may have up to 13 games left to play. Let's not forget he missed 3 league games at the start of the season which meant he got off to a really slow start. He could have scored 3 or 4 goals in the games against Sunderland, Man City and Tottenham.

[Jon Michael]

People have written that Ronaldo does not do as well in the big European games. However, what they forget is that he may have 2-3 players tracking him and this creates the space for other players in the team to take advantage of the space created.

[Gerald]

George Best by a mile, followed by close second Dennis Law. Both players could turn a game on their own and excelled against the top teams.

Ronaldo has not yet proved himself as a big time player - witness his performance in the CL semi-final 2nd leg last season against AC Milan - and can only begin to be considered for contention as a great when he stops the diving.

[philip shearer]

Roy or Ryan. For me this one is close, almost too close. Roy Keane was an absolute inspiration and undoubtedly the ultimate motivator and team player. United really became great under his leadership. Everyone talks about his Juventus semi final but i loved him in games like when he helped end Arsenal's epic winning run and put Vieira et co in his back pocket thus crushing their confidence once more.

However, Ryan Giggs by the time he hangs ups his boots will have to go down as the GREATEST. He has been there every time, won everything, scintillated, captivated and dazzled not only in England but Europe as well for well over a decade, almost two! Today like Scholes, what he lacks in pace he makes up for in experience. Fingers crossed Giggsy wins his 10th crown and 2nd Uefa title. Much like Maldini......he is a LEGEND!!

[ayeda]

I think the best player is ryan giggs. he has so much class and perfection is his style of playing that it is cool. he has more trophies than any other manutd player and one thing that is amazing about him : he has remained loyal to manchester united since he was a kid and thats wats good about him. i hope he overcomes bobby charlton in the appearance ranking on the day its the uefa champions league final 2008 in moscow and he and the team win the trophy.

[Imran]

Cantona was named player of the centuary by United fans. Cantona and ronaldo are two different players. Cantona was a team player who knew where his team mates were. He lead marsielle and leeds to victory as well as Manchester United.

[kevin]

Ronaldo and Best must be comparable for sheer entertainment...but..top teams have shown they can handle Ronaldo. In most crucial European games,where the opposition have excellent defensive and tactical awareness, he just becomes another player...and dare I say it somewhat one dimensional. Lets see him do something special on the way to winning the Champions league and then we can re-assess.

[Louis]

For all those talking about Ronaldo being so young and having such potential.

Best was playing for Utd. at the age of 17. 17, when there was little or no protection from refs, he was tiny, and yet warrented a starting position.

He then scored 2 in the European Cup final at the age of 20 ...

What had Ronaldo acheived by 20?

[John Hill]

My vote goes to Dennis Law.His all round game combined with amazing awareness of everything around him was astonishing.It should not be overlooked that Law,Best,Charlton & Co were playing in the era when on a wet & muddy pitch the football became more like a medicine ball to kick or head.Would Beckham,Ronaldo & Giggs be able to hit their free kicks the way that they do with one of those balls?.I somehow doubt it.

[Steven]

Simply George Best - Ronaldo has potential to be the best in the world

[Sérgio Costa]

I read many comment's... Cristiano Ronaldo is not the best, yet, but look at this point, he is 23years old, he is the fastest player in the world, he scores and creates oportunities, like no other.. imagine ronaldo 50years ago, with Best together?!! Sorry my english, but i'm portuguese.. So my vote Cristiano Ronaldo

[BANGO]

best is the best of all the best players mentioed ,thank God for the lad Ronaldo he is driving things at man u

[billly]

It really is ridiculous to compare Ronaldo to the likes of the players mention. And the funny thing is, there were more who where not mentioned on the poll. I believe the supporters need to give him more time to not only prove his skill but also his loyalty. If you look at the players who are mentioned, all of them have spent most of their careers at United, and that's one thing that attracts me to a club like United, the fact that they have a strong history and the people involved with United have had a long relationship with the club.

So to pick a player is very hard for me (considering my age) but from what i have seen Roy Keane gets my vote. From what I've read and heard it should be a close tie between Duncan Edwards and George Best.

[Mark Ryan]

Ronaldo shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as most of the players on that list. He's proven he's a quality player who can score and create in the Premiership against the Wigans and Derbys of the world, but when has he shown he's anything more than that? It's Duncan Edwards for me, at the same age he'd achieved more

[Keiran Myers]

George Best Was The Greatest Player I have ever seen . and I Include Pele and Marradona . Christiano Ronaldo Is a very very good player but he will never be even close to be compared with George Best who had mesmerising skill. People like myself who are old enough and who where lucky enough see George Best Play will know that he was just on another level that unfortunatly Ronaldo can not possibly reach.

[paul greenwood]

Clayton Blackmore ? Did you forget Ashley Grimes !!

[Johnny Azevedo]

This is a hard question but Ronaldo is 23 years old and what he already achieved... amazing. Best was amazing too but not so fast and in a less tactical football. Ronaldo changes his pace very quickly leaving everyone behind, just hope Man United can keep him in the squad and if so my vote was more than correct. Sometimes it’s hard to believe the boy’s age. I mention only George Best because for me it’s really one or the other.

[alan]

As someone who grew up in Manchester in the sixties it has to be Georgie - followed by Charlton, then Law, then probably Giggs, Rooney, Ronaldo, Cantona and Keane.

[The Cardboard Cockney]

After Saturday it has to be Tomasz Kuszczak. Fantastic !!!!!!!

[JamieH80]

Imagine Best playing now , he wouldnt last 60 minutes.... harp on at me if you like about his genius - there is no question of that - but the game is faster now, far more skillful with goalkeepers and defenders 100% better than in the 60's. Imagine Ronaldo in the 60s, providing he wasnt decapitated by one of the "great" defenders of the time, place him in any game and he would walk it.... It is a simple matter of evolution. are you telling me Borg could beat Federer, Nicholas beat Woods, Higgins beat Osullivan, Bristow beat Taylor..... Not a chance. If you look at the sports where results are tangeable..Athletics, swimming, snooker, darts each generation improves upon the next. always. Modern footballers are far superior to their predeccessors. If you wish to argue against this then you must consider variables or argue comparatively not simply say I saw Best he is far better than Ronaldo -its a joke.

[zacks adams]

I have a personal respect for Ronaldo the phenomenon he is very good at his tender age he is uncomparable i think he is the best

[Ikechukwu]

Man U fan From Nigeria. Any United fan who rates Ronaldo higher than Best clearly didn't see Best playing. I don't see best playing but i saw him on television. HIs a good a player and C.Ronaldo is also a good too. But in anything there most be the right one... Think about it. Iyke From Nigeria.

[Frnny]

I am 57 and have watched Utd since I weas 6, to suggest that the likes of Cantona and Ronaldo, good as they are, are in the same bracket as Sir Bobby Charlton or Denis Law is laughable. Charlton won a World Cup, a European cup and European Player of the year, Law won European player of the year and appeared in a World 11 against England. Ronaldo has never performed gainst a top team and niehter diod Cantona.
AS to George Best, as I remebr it he was good alright, but not as good as todays press make him out to be, he wasn't so popular at the time.

[Gerry]

Best injected magical excitement and glamour into the black & white age.
Weaving past assassins through fields of muck, his bravery and balance wouldn't let him dive.
He played best in big games (something Ronaldo needs to learn).
I rate Rooney well ahead of Ronaldo, and Giggs and Scholes have nothing to prove -they've done it all when it mattered.
Ronaldo is a speed merchant, but doesn't have half the skill of Georgie. He takes all the penalties and almost all free kicks- that's worth a few goals per season.
How many goals has Rooney created for him, and how many goals have we missed because Ronaldo thinks he IS the greatest?
My vote goes to George because he did more than anyone to create the legacy of exciting, entertaining football.
In the future, I expect Rooney to be there longer, and to have greater moments than Ronaldo.

[Eric McRobson]

Clearly the greatest player has to be one from today's modern era of football. Let's face it, the likes of Best, Charlton etc. faced very poor quality teams. Players like Ronaldo or Rooney would make a mockery of old time defenders like Billy Bremmner, Dave McKay, Norman Hunter, Chopper Harris etc. Some of the comments so far from the "oldies" appear to be of the "rose-tinted" variety. In today's professiuonal game, players like Best and Charlton would be Championship players at best.

Who is the greatest Man Utd. player of all time? Easy. Ronanldo.

[Mark]

It's ridiculous to even suggest that Christiano Ronaldo is even on the same plant as Bobby Charlton. as to Cantona he wan't in the same galaxy. Charltonn was head and shoulders above anyway at Old Trafford, including George Best and Denis Law, the only ones that deseve menton.

[VM]

Ronaldo freezes in big games like the one against Milan last year and can be nullified by greater teams in Europe. Best never froze and was undoubtedly United's most gifted ever player.But Best never fulfilled his potential and Charlton and Law were just as important as he was to United. Neither has Giggs fulfilled his potential due to injury although he was the catalyst way back in the 90s for the most successful United team ever and thus it would be fair to say Giggs is the best United player purely for the effect he had produced.

[George Irwell]

The argument can stop here.

The answer is:

Clayton Blackmore.

[Frank Cardiff]

I never thought I'd ever select anyone but Georgie,after all he is the reason I support United. The guy was class and cool personified and I was lucky enough to see him play one of his last virtuoso performances against Southampton when he scored a hattrick.
However,I voted for the one true King.Eric Cantona.