But one man privileged enough to receive such praise was former United winger Ben Thornley – a star of the Reds' famous 'Class of '92' youth team.
Local lad Thornley made just 14 appearances for the Reds' senior side in a career that was badly curtailed by the terrible injury he suffered in April 1994.
But his talent was so rich that United and England legend Nobby Stiles – one of only two Englishmen to win both the World Cup and the European Cup – was compelled to describe Thornley as the closest thing he'd seen to Best.