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The results are in and we can reveal that, according to Eurosport-Yahoo! readers, the greatest ever Manchester United player is... George Best.

The twinkle-toed Northern Irishman was our top pick and you agreed but only just with 25 per cent of you plumping for Best ahead of the 23 per cent who went for Eric Cantona.

Next came Cristiano Ronaldo on 19 per cent which proves he still has plenty of admirers despite having departed for Real Madrid this summer.

Loyal winger Ryan Giggs came next on 17 per cent while Bobby Charlton chipped in with 12 per cent of the vote.

Duncan Edwards and Denis Law (two per cent each) are perhaps victims of time while Bryan Robson's terrible managerial career might have clouded some memories of his playing days - hence his one per cent total.

But Best is your man. The creative, yet flawed, genius who won two league titles, a European Cup and the Ballon d'Or, is the greatest player to have ever worn the red at Old Trafford.

As they say in Belfast: "Maradona good, Pele better, George Best!"

Eurosport-Yahoo! verdict:

1 - George Best

2 - Eric Cantona

3 - Denis Law

Readers' verdict:

1 - George Best 25%

2 - Eric Cantona 23%

3 - Cristiano Ronaldo 19%

4 - Ryan Giggs 17%

5 - Bobby Charlton 12%

6 - Duncan Edwards 2%

7 - Denis Law 2%

8 - Bryan Robson 1%

(40,000 votes as of 12:30 Saturday August 8)

Here is how some of you made a case for your favourites:

Ida Futstein: Pele once signed an autograph for George Best with the words "from the second best footballer in the world". If Pele thought George Best was the greatest footballer in the world, how could he not be the greatest footballer in the history of Manchester United?

Aleksicn93: It has to be Bobby Charlton, mainly due to what he's been through in the Munich air disaster, and how he recovered to become our top scorer of all time, and how he led us to European glory. One cannot forget his years of service and loyal support of the club. Mr. Manchester United indeed.

Alec897: George Best was the greatest because he was a first. The first superstar footballer, the first player of his kind. He is criticised for his later problems but I'd like to see anybody handle being lofted to the dizzy heights that he experienced.

Pshort: I've followed United since 1962 and I can tell you that Cantona is not fit to lace the boots of Law, Best or Charlton. Frenchie only stayed five seasons and managed to bring the club's name, and football in general, into disrepute. Of all the players I've seen since 1962 the top three are the "Holy Trinity" in any order you like.

Willthered: The greatest player ever to grace a football pitch in my lifetime has to be the late George Best, a player who excelled in all facets of the game and who in today's silly priced market would just be impossible to value.

Uctsoulja: CR7 will always be the best player Manchester United has seen! It's a pity that, now after he has left, no one can say anything about Cristiano, without referring to his diving, sulking, and on the field antics. What about his goals, his entertaining footy, what about the fear he put into defenders? Who? And I repeat who will be able to put the fear of god into defences as Cristiano Ronaldo has done? CR7 - Will always be the best!

Shujaahmad200: Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane as honourable mentions? What a disgrace!? I think you should extend the list pronto to include these true greats! Schmeichel was arguably the greatest keeper that ever lived and Scholes is the best natural talent that England has produced in the last 20 years. And Roy Keane? No need to say anything!

The_rogue_unknown: I picked Eric Cantona. I was about 12-13 years old when I started watching Man U games (I'm American). I totally fell in love with the team and Cantona who was like a God on the field.

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