Ferguson: Ronaldo can outdo Best

He's been regarded as an Old Trafford legend for generations, but now the legacy of Northern Ireland's George Best is under threat from a young whipper-snapper called Ronaldo.

The Portuguese international has some way to go to eclipse Best's career achievements but speaking at the Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Stars Awards, Manchester United supremo Alex Ferguson reckons if anyone can do it the club's current number 7 can.

Identifying courage as the common quality amongst the game's greats, the Scot applied this attribute to legends such as Pele, Cryuff and Best, and included Ronaldo in this pantheon.

Ferguson also drew attention to Ronaldo's goal-rate so far this season – which at 27 is edging closer to George Best's tally of 32 in the celebrated 1967-68 season.