According to a report by BBC Sport on Friday November 6, 2026, in spite of Cristiano Ronaldo's outstanding accomplishments during his trophy-laden Manchester United career, Sir Alex Ferguson ignored the Portuguese forward and named his favorite player in Premier League history.

The legendary former United manager chose Ryan Giggs because of his exceptional durability, reliability, and impact, all of which were crucial to the club's success during the competition's many years at Old Trafford.

Fourteen current and former Premier League players have been inducted into the hall since its inception in 2021. Several illustrious English football figures were presented with the inaugural honors, including Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer.

Ronaldo, who won the Premier League Player of the Season award in 2007 and again in 2008, scored 103 league goals for United, and is expected to join that distinguished group.

Even though he won the Premier League a record thirteen times and had the most assists in league history (162), Ryan Giggs is noticeably absent from the discussion about potential future stars like Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah.

Since Giggs is not yet a retired professional, he is not eligible for induction. Despite the lack of an official announcement, BBC Sport speculated that the decision could be attributed to scandals in his personal life.

When asked if he was bothered by the omission, Giggs denied it, saying that winning awards was never his top priority. Throughout his playing career, he claimed, winning games and accumulating medals had always been significantly more important.

Giggs was one of just four truly world-class players that Ferguson had coached at United before, according to Ferguson's previous statements. Five years prior to his retirement in 2009, Giggs rated the Welshman higher than anybody else.

Ferguson acknowledged the impact of other players but firmly stated that Giggs' outstanding career led him to be his top pick for the Premier League's greatest player. "Nobody can boast the same sort of longevity and consistency," he explained.