Today is St George’s day: a celebration of the patron saint of England.
To commemorate this special day in English culture, I thought I would rank the top five most influential sports stars named George in history.
5) Eddie George
The first two entrees on my list are more famous in the uS, but are famous George’s nevertheless.
Eddie George is a former American football star who went on to have a successful NFL career, primarily with the Tennessee Titans.
George was known for his durability, rarely missing games, and for his ability to carry heavy workloads as a running back.
He played a key role in leading the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV, where they narrowly lost.
Over his career, George earned multiple Pro Bowl selections and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. His consistent performances made him one of the most reliable running backs of his era.
4) Paul George
George first gained major attention with the Indiana Pacers, leading them to deep playoff runs and establishing himself as one of the league’s rising stars.
He later played for teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, continuing to perform at a high level.
While his global fame is somewhat limited compared to that of football stars, Paul George is highly influential in basketball and modern sports culture, especially in the United States.
3) George Weah
The first, but not last, Ballon d’Or winner on this list, George Weah, places third in the best Georges of all time.
Weah had a fantastic career in football, becoming the first African player to win the Ballon d’Or while at AC Milan.
Since football, Weah has become the 25th president of his home country, Liberia, and has become infamous on and off the pitch.
2) George Foreman
Taking the silver medal in this debate is George Foreman.
Although he could make it on the list alone for his George Foreman grill, he earns his place in second due to his infamous boxing career.
Foreman built a reputation for being one of the hardest hitters boxing has ever witnessed.
He won the heavyweight title defeating fellow legend Joe Frazier.
His career took a dramatic turn in 1974 during the famous Rumble in the Jungle, where he lost his title to Muhammad Ali, one of the biggest upsets in sports history.
What made his story more iconic is that Foreman reinvented himself and came out of retirement at 45, where he regained his heavyweight crown, beating Michael Moorer
A truly iconic George.
1) George Best
Last but not least, the man who wins the best George award is the Man United legend George Best.
Not only was George Best one of the best players on the pitch, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1968, but he was one of the first football superstars.
The way Best marketed himself, being one of the first footballers always in the limelight, led the framework of how players market themselves today.
Best spearheaded the Red Devils to two English First Divisions and one European Cup, and was their top scorer in five consecutive seasons, from 1967 to 1972.
Best is still mentioned as one of the greatest players to grace this earth, and if he did not leave United at 28 at the peak of his powers, who knows what he could of achieved.
