True Genius: George Best

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In the home tie, Best was kicked and spat on by José Hugo Medina, and both players were sent off after Best reacted with a punch. On 27 October, newspapers stated that Best was close to death and had sent a farewell message to his loved ones.

With feet as sensitive as a pickpocket's hands, his control of the ball under the most violent pressure was astonishing. Playing only five competitive matches for Jewish Guild in South Africa, Best endured criticism for missing several training sessions.

His talent and showmanship made him a crowd and media favourite, and he went from being headline news in the back pages to the front pages.

Best was considered briefly by manager Billy Bingham for the 1982 World Cup, but at the age of 35, with his football skills dulled by age and drink (and five years having passed since his last cap), he was not selected for the Northern Ireland squad. When fit, he was an automatic choice for the Northern Ireland team, but he was unable to lead them to the World Cup qualification, despite being capped 37 times and scoring nine goals.

Indifferent seasons with lesser clubs, publicly disastrous liaisons, and an ongoing battle with alcoholism did nothing to erase the memories of this charismatic man. Alcoholism had him in its grip from an early age, affecting the love affairs that fed the tabloid headlines, but there was far more to Best than booze and birds. However Best said "no one tackled harder or dirtier than this Argentinian team" as a 1–0 defeat at the Estadio Camilo Cichero was followed by a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford. The aircraft was later used to carry Best's family across to the Manchester memorial service for Best.