Our second day of Black Friday brings another slice of history, this time from the world of football.
If yesterday was about true crime and mystery, today is all about brilliance, artistry, controversy… and two names that continue to echo through football culture decades after their final matches.
Because on 25 November, the world lost not one, but two of the most iconic footballers to ever touch a ball:
- George Best — passed away on 25 Nov 2005
- Diego Maradona — passed away on 25 Nov 2020
Two players separated by era and style, but united in talent, flair, and the kind of flawed genius that still captivates fans today.
Let’s take a moment to look back at both men — their brilliance, their impact, and the lasting mark they left on the sport.
Diego Maradona — The Unreachable Genius
There are talented footballers, and then there is Maradona — a category of one.
Born in Buenos Aires in 1960, Maradona’s rise from the slums of Villa Fiorito to the peak of world football is the stuff of legend. Agile, explosive, impossibly gifted, and blessed with a low centre of gravity that made him glide past defenders as if they weren’t there, Maradona could turn a match on its head single-handedly.
His greatest moments are football mythology:
- The 1986 World Cup, arguably the most dominant individual tournament performance ever.
- The “Hand of God” — the first of his goals in the QuarTer Final against England - controversial, unforgettable.
- The “Goal of the Century” — his second goal of the game was somewhat overshadowed in the UK because of his earlier cheating but was a mesmerising 60-metre solo run that remains one of the most replayed goals in history.
- His Napoli years — where he lifted an entire city on his shoulders and delivered titles they’d never dreamed of.
Maradona wasn’t just a footballer.
He was emotion, chaos, theatre, power, vulnerability — all packed into a 5'5" whirlwind.
But behind the genius was a darker side. Addiction issues, including cocaine dependency, led to suspensions, health problems, and a career that frequently derailed under its own weight. While we remember his brilliance, his story is also a cautionary tale of a megastar brought down by excess.
Still, his death on 25 November 2020 shook the world. Millions mourned him. Stadiums cried. Murals exploded across Naples and Buenos Aires.
Maradona was — and remains — a footballing icon unlike any other.
George Best — The Original Superstar
If Maradona was football’s firestorm, George Best was its rockstar.
Born in Belfast in 1946, Best burst onto the scene at Manchester United with long hair, effortless swagger, and a style of play that still feels modern today.
He dribbled like Messi before Messi.
He had the confidence of Ronaldo before Ronaldo was born.
And he had the electric unpredictability that made defenders give up before the ball even reached his feet.
His biggest achievements include:
- Winning the European Cup with Manchester United in 1968
- Claiming the Ballon d’Or the same year
- Scoring some of the most elegant goals English football has ever witnessed
- Being part of the legendary “Holy Trinity” with Charlton and Law
He was the football celebrity of the 60s and early 70s — adored, charming, and impossibly gifted.
But like Maradona, Best battled addiction demons, particularly alcohol. His lifestyle became as famous as his football. And slowly, painfully, the game’s greatest entertainer saw his career unravel far earlier than it should have.
When he passed away on 25 November 2005, the football world mourned not just the legend he was — but the legend he could have been if life had gone differently.
Two Legends, One Date — And One Big Debate
With both men passing on the same date, 25 November has become an accidental day of football remembrance — a day to celebrate genius, reflect on legacy, and discuss the ever-controversial question:
Where do Maradona and Best sit among the all-time greats?
In the Snus Vikings office today, this kicked off a surprisingly heated debate.
Some argued they were the greatest ever — pure talent, unmatched flair, football without fear.
Others argued they were the best but not the greatest — that “greatness” requires longevity, professionalism, consistency, and fulfilment of potential.
My personal take?
While both were extraordinary footballers — and undeniably in the conversation for the best to ever play — they gave up too many years of their careers to addiction and off-field chaos to truly compete for the title of greatest.
Greatest requires peak performance and a full body of work.
Best requires raw ability, which both had in abundance.
What Do You Think?
So now we put the question to you:
Would you consider Maradona and Best the greatest footballers of all time — or simply the best on pure talent?
And more importantly…
👉 Who would be in your Top 5 greatest footballers ever?
Drop your list. Start the debate. Let’s see where you stand.
