Manchester United's England striker Wayne Rooney says he would like to reach the playing heights scaled by George Best before his career is over.
The hugely talented forward scored United's equaliser in Sunday's 2-1 league win over West Ham, his club's first match since Best died in a London hospital on Friday.
"He was one of the greats and it's a sad loss for everybody," the 20-year-old Liverpudlian told Sky Sports.
Asked about the inevitable comparison with the Northern Ireland winger, Rooney said: "George Best was one of the best, if not the best player in the world.
"I'm sure I've got a long way to go before I reach those heights - but hopefully, one day in the future, people will be talking about me like that."
United manager Alex Ferguson was also buoyant about Rooney's prospects and pleased United had put on a good performance after losing one of the game's great entertainers.
"I was pleased, because I knew all the comparisons were going to be coming out obviously - and quite rightly, that's the kind of club we are," Ferguson said.
"I hoped that somebody would produce some moments that people would say reflected George Best."
As for that somebody being Rooney, Ferguson said: "He's only 20 and he's without question the best player I've seen in my time.
"If he keeps developing and matures, goodness knows what he'll become. At the moment, he brings a breath of fresh air in the game."
One-minute silences and applauses could be heard around English and Scottish football grounds over the weekend as a tribute to Best. He died of multiple organ failure following decades of heavy drinking.
