Former Manchester United soccer star George Best was today awarded a top academic accolade at Queen's University in his native Belfast in recognition of his services to the game.
After being accompanied to the ceremony by his wife Alex, Best, (55), was presented with a Doctorate before an audience of hundreds of students.
Belfast playwright Marie Jones was also honoured for her "outstanding" work, before the students were conferred with their degrees.
Best smiled shyly, and showed few signs of the recent illness he picked up while on a holiday in Cyprus, as he walked with the procession into the hall and was presented with the award.
The audience at the annual winter graduation ceremony listened as Best, dressed in academic robes, was praised as "a Belfast boy, who made a historic and unsurpassed contribution to Association Football".
University registrar Mr James O'Kane added that he was "noteworthy, sometimes notorious, but never ignored".
Best, who grew up on East Belfast's Cregagh Estate, was awarded the doctorate for his services to the game - which included 179 goals for Manchester United in 466 games between 1963 and 1974.
He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland during his career and declared British and European Footballer of the Year in 1968 at the age of 22.
Today's award will come as a boost after a string of health scares Best, who underwent extensive treatment for liver damage at the Cromwell Hospital in London last year.
PA