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George Best's 1968 European Cup winner's medal sells for £300k

BBC Published Jun 28, 2026 Reviewed Jul 2, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
George Best's 1968 European Cup winner's medal sells for £300k
George Best's 1968 European Cup winner's medal sold for £305,200 at auction.
305200 GBP · George Best's 1968 European Cup winner's medal
Manchester United defeated Benfica 4–1 after extra time in the 1968 European Cup final.
4 · Manchester United goals1 · Benfica goals
Manchester United won its first European Cup in 1968.
1 · European Cup titles
The Munich Air Disaster occurred 10 years before Manchester United's 1968 European Cup victory.
10 years · Time between Munich Air Disaster and 1968 European Cup win8 · Busby Babes killed23 · Total fatalities in Munich Air Disaster
West Germany defeated the Netherlands 2–1 in the 1974 World Cup Final.
2 · West Germany goals1 · Netherlands goals
Auctioneers Bonhams sold George Best's European Cup winner's medal for £305,200.
305200 GBP · George Best's European Cup winner's medal Bonhams, auctioneers
Auctioneers Bonhams sold the shirt belonging to the British referee in the 1974 World Cup Final for £28,160.
28160 GBP · shirt belonging to the British referee in the 1974 World Cup Final Bonhams, auctioneers
Referee Jack Taylor awarded two penalties in the 1974 World Cup Final.
2 penalties · Jack Taylor, referee
An England World Cup winner's medal sold for £200,000.
200000 GBP · England World Cup winner's medal

Football legend George Best's European Cup winner's medal has sold for more than £300,000 at auction.

Best scored in the 1968 final as Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 after extra-time at Wembley.

The Northern Ireland international helped United to become the first English side to win the old European Cup, now known as the Champions League.

Best's medal was sold for £305,200 by auctioneers Bonhams in London after it had been offered by a private collector.

Best scored United's second goal in the final after he dribbled round the Benfica goalkeeper.

The Red Devils' victory came 10 years after the Munich Air Disaster in which eight members of Matt Busby's team, known as the Busby Babes, were among the 23 killed.

At the same Bonhams auction, the shirt belonging to the British referee in the 1974 World Cup Final sold for £28,160.

Referee Jack Taylor famously awarded two penalties in the game between hosts West Germany and Holland in Berlin.

Taylor booked Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff for diving.

West Germany won 2-1 to win the World Cup and beat the celebrated "total football" played by the Netherlands team of that era.

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