London, 22 May 2026 - This Friday (22 May 2026) marks what would have been the 80th birthday of legendary footballer George Best. Known for his extraordinary skill, dazzling dribbling ability, and charisma both on and off the pitch, George Best (1946-2005) is widely regarded as one of football's greatest ever talents, rising to fame with Manchester United F.C. in the 1960s. Today Bonhams announces a sale of an exceptional items of sport history, led by the 1968 European Cup Winners' Medal awarded to George Best, which has an estimate of £150,000 - 250,000.
With the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Championships around the corner, the sale, which runs from 15-24 June on bonhams.com, will include items from across the world of sport, from boxing to basketball, football and beyond.
The 1968 European Cup Winners' Medal comes from the famous match held at Wembley on 29th May 1968, between Manchester United and Benfica, which the Portuguese champions lost 4 to 1 after extra time. The first half passed without incident, but eight minutes into the second half Bobby Charlton opened the scoring for Manchester United with a rare headed goal. However, the lead only lasted for 22 minutes before Jaime Graça scored for Benfica. The score remained at 1 to 1 until the end of normal time, forcing the match into extra time. George Best put United in the lead again three minutes into extra time, picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, Best broke into the penalty area, dribbled round the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an empty net. Brian Kidd added United's third a minute later, before Charlton rounded off the scoring. United's win meant that they became the first English team to win the European Cup.
This is the only European Cup Winners' Medal George Best ever received. The same year, he was named European Footballer of the Year at just 22 years old. As Northern Ireland never qualified for a World Cup during Best's career, the 1968 win is seen as the summit of the career of one of the most recognisable names in the history of football.
Simon Roberts, Head of Sale, commented: "The importance of the medal can't be understated: it represents the greatest achievement of a player still considered to be one of the most talented British footballers of all time, a huge cultural icon who would have graced any World Cup; the victory over the favourites Benfica, including Best's tide-turning goal, was the culmination of the mercurial forward's career, and symbolised the resurgence of Manchester United under Sir Matt Busby following the 1958 Munich air disaster."
George Best's sister, Barbara Mc Narry, said that 'out of all of George's treasure trove of soccer awards the most important thing was his 1968 European Cup Winners' Medal.'
Best can be seen holding the medal in his right hand, still in it's box, whilst holding the trophy with his left, in photographs from the final.
The medal comes to auction from a UK private collection, having been first been sold at auction at Bonhams by the executors of George Best's estate in 2010.
(Press Release)
