Sir Bobby Charlton has been hailed in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as he celebrates his 80th birthday.

From Sir Alex Ferguson to Denis Law and Gordon Banks to Gary Neville, the biggest names in Manchester United's and England's history have been recalling their memories of Sir Bobby on his big day.

Charlton is widely considered the greatest English footballer in history.

He inspired the Three Lions to World Cup glory in 1966 as part of a monumental and storied career for both club and country.

Here's why some household names believe that Sir Bobby is one of the greatest of all-time.

Charlton in action during the 1966 World Cup final (
Image:
Hulton Archive)
Charlton is considered a legend of England and Manchester United (
Image:
Hulton Archive)
Charlton's birthday has been celebrated by the England squad (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

Sir Alex Ferguson

“He’s so unassuming. He’s never used his fame to help himself. Success can change people – it never changed Bobby Charlton. That’s fantastic.

“Everywhere you go, when you say you’re from Manchester, it’s ‘Sir Bobby Charlton? Bobby Charlton?’

“I’ve watched that bit when they won the European Cup in 1968 and what it meant to him – and Sir Matt Busby and Bill Foulkes - because they were the survivors of the Munich air disaster.

“You could see I their faces what it meant to them. That was the special moment – probably the greatest moment, I think – of his life.”

Charlton with Sir Alex ahead of a 1994 Champions League clash (
Image:
Daily Mirror)
The pair have struck up a great friendship at Manchester United (
Image:
Manchester United)

Sir Geoff Hurst

“He’s a self-effacing individual, didn’t recognise how great he was.

“He was probably one of the most gifted players of this or any generation.”

Charlton and Hurst pose as they support England's bid for the 2006 World Cup (
Image:
Reuters)

Denis Law

“Bobby was simply one of the best players there has ever been. He had such a fantastic career, achieving so much, and what a nice guy as well.

“Playing with great players like Bobby - or Sir Robert as I like to call him - made the game so much easier.

“The pitches now are like bowling greens. If we’d had those pitches like that back then, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi might not have got a mention.

“I’m joking of course, they’re two of the greatest players of all time, but Bobby certainly belongs in that bracket with them.”

Law (left) alongside Sir Bobby and George Best (
Image:
Daily Mirror)
The three men have a statue outside of Old Trafford (
Image:
Getty Images)

David Beckham

“I owe everything to Sir Bobby because, if not, maybe I wouldn’t have had the chance of living my dream of playing for the club that I’d supported.

“I went to the Bobby Charlton soccer school, ended up winning the competition, and Sir Bobby contacted Manchester United and said ‘maybe you should have a look out for this young kid’ and that’s how my career with United started – with Sir Bobby.

“He has always been about being successful, but even more so about helping other people.

“That’s what’s so special about him - he’s respected on the field, but even more so off the field.”

Beckham receives his 100th England cap from Sir Bobby (
Image:
Getty Images)

Jackie Charlton

“He’s exactly the same now as he was when I was a little lad which, for someone as famous, is remarkable.

“The best player I ever saw was Sir Bobby – and he’s my brother.”

Sir Bobby alongside his brother, Jack, in 1965 (
Image:
PA)
The brother during the World Cup winners parade in Ashington, 1966 (
Image:
NCJ Archive)
The brothers together in 2006 (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Ryan Giggs

“When you get a stand named after you, then you’re a pretty special player.

“When I was on 400 or 500 games, people were saying ‘you’re going to beat Sir Bobby’s record’ and I was like ‘no chance, absolutely no chance’.

“So to do it was a fantastic achievement, obviously, but to beat Sir Bobby’s record, such a legend at the club - and still is - was special.

“He would come in, on big games, just giving a little bit of insight of what he went through at certain times of his career and you could hear a pin drop. He would be speaking and everyone was just staring, listening to his every word.

Giggs surpassed Charlton's appearance record for United (
Image:
PA)
Giggs sees Charlton as one of the greatest ever (
Image:
Getty Images Contributor)

“You’d go on pre-season tours and he’s having bigger queues lining up for his autographs than some of players, you’d just realise you’re in the presence of a legend. Fans would run past some of the star players, just to get to Sir Bobby.

“He was always there for me as a young player offering advice and when you think about what he achieved and did, you always listened.

“He is a true ambassador for the club and he still continues to represent and support Manchester United. He epitomises Manchester United, a true gentleman of the game. I can’t believe he’s going to be 80.”

Sir Bobby poses for a picture ahead of the 1960/61 season (
Image:
PA)

Gary Neville

“He’s a level above, really, in terms of what he’s done in his career and how he’s gone about his business, his life.

“Pele, Maradona, Beckenbauer, Platini, all the great players and you’d have to put Bobby Charlton in that bracket. He is the epitome of Manchester United, right the way through the ages.

Some of his goals transcend time and you think ‘ on that pitch, with that ball, to be able to hit it like that from that distance – even today you don’t see many of them.

“The dressing room can obviously be a rowdy place and if Sir Bobby walked in you stopped swearing, you started to behave.

Neville speaks to Sir Bobby ahead of an England game in Malta in 2000 (
Image:
Popperfoto)

“He’s a fantastic man, approachable, and inspired us all through our careers - how couldn’t he? He used to come and watch the youth team and shake our hands.

“To listen to his amazing stories or advice was a dream as a young boy. He’s an icon in football and that’s not something you use freely, but he is.

“He’s an ambassador to football globally, a respected individual and we’re lucky he’s at Manchester United.”

Sir Bobby celebrates 100 caps for England (
Image:
PA)
Sir Bobby poses with the Jules Rimet trophy (
Image:
PA)

Phil Neville

“Sir Bobby is one of the nicest, most humble legends I’ve ever met. He’s an example of how to be as a footballer and as a person.

“The support and advice he gave me as a young player was invaluable and meant a great deal as a young boy at Manchester United.

“Happy Birthday Sir Bobby.”

Charlton celebrates being named Footballer of the Year in 1966 (
Image:
PA)

Nicky Butt

“Sir Bobby is still involved in the club so I see him at games. I can’t believe how many games he and Lady Norma go to - you can probably count on one hand how many he’s missed.

“This club means everything to him and quite rightly he’s ingrained in the history of Manchester United.

“His presence around the ground is fantastic and the young players always ask questions about that amazing era.”

Sir bobby reads the Mirror at the hotel during the 1966 World Cup (
Image:
PA)

Paul Scholes

“You can’t mention Manchester United without mentioning Charlton, Law and Best, and the success as a team.

“I always remember after every game, win or lose, Sir Bobby would come into the dressing-room and offer congratulations or a pat you on the shoulder.

“That said it all - he was feeling the pain, too.

“He’s a true fan and a true legend of the game.”

Scholes says that Sir Bobby is a great ambassador for United (
Image:
Getty Images Contributor)

Wayne Rooney

“His records have stood for so long. He was such a great player, so to get those records of his is something I was extremely proud of.

“He was happy but also a bit disappointed, which I can completely understand!

“He’s got the one record we’d all love to have and the one medal which we’d all love to have, which is the World Cup.

“I’d give him back all those records I’ve taken off him tomorrow for that World Cup winners’ medal, that’s for sure.”

Rooney beat Sir Bobby's goalscoring record at United... (
Image:
Getty Images)
...and for England (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

Rio Ferdinand

“He’s just Mr Football. He’s just the best ambassador you could have.

“That’s the sign of of the man, the strength, the tragedy that he’s seen, friends, team-mates, dying in front of him, being a part of that crash.

“And to then dust yourself down and go again, the character to do that, can’t be underestimated.

“All that he’s achieved as a football player, as a man after football, what he represents, what he stands for, he’s still that guy next door - you feel as though he’s touchable.”

Rio described Sir Bobby as "Mr Football" (
Image:
Manchester United)

Eric Cantona

“He could defend, attack, give a ball, score – and he was a leader. He was a masterpiece of the game.

“I’ve met him many times before and he’s a legend for all of us.

“His life is like a big script for a big movie. I can’t understand why they haven’t made it.

“He’s 80 now, but it’s great to see a man like him respected all around the world. Nobody can forget him – that’s the destiny of great men.

“There are a lot of great players, but he was one of the greatest of all-time.

“Happy Birthday Sir Bobby.”

Cantona speaks to Sir Bobby in the stands in 2008 (
Image:
Manchester United)
Sir Bobby in action for United in 1968 (
Image:
PA)

Bryan Robson

“He’s a been a great ambassador for football. He’s been an unbelievable ambassador throughout the world for England and Manchester United.

“He’s been a fantastic servant to the game and a real gentleman, and he deserves all the accolades he received.

“He still loves his football and still goes to all the United games and England games, so you can’t speak highly enough of him and what he’s done for the game.”

Robson (right) chats with other former United players including Charlton (
Image:
Manchester United)
Sir Bobby has a stand named after him at Old Trafford now (
Image:
PA)

Gordon Banks

“In many ways, Bob is more than a footballer, more than a World Cup winner and more than a legend – he's almost royalty.

“When you travel abroad and meet people who don't speak our language, sometimes the only two words of English they know are 'Bobby Charlton'.

“That says it all - it shows he is revered all over the world.

“As well as being an absolute gentleman, he was of course a fantastic player. One of the all-time greats.

Charlton lifts the World Cup after the victory in 1966 (
Image:
Hulton Archive)

“Whenever I played against Manchester United for Leicester or Stoke, and Bob looked like he was in enough space to shoot, I would always come off my line an extra two or three yards to narrow the angle.

“Not only was a he lovely, clean striker of the ball off either foot, he was also so accurate. As a keeper, when Bobby Charlton was lining up a shot, you knew you were going for a dip in the mud if he got it away.”

poll loading

Is Sir Bobby Charlton England's greatest-ever footballer?

1000+ VOTES SO FAR