Law was one of the most respected players on the planet at the time. He is one of the most worshiped people in his homeland.
Scotland had no shortage of footballing icons in those days – the Lisbon Lions had just become immortal – but one particular day at Wembley in 1967 just added to Law's legend.
Through his inspiration of victory over the then world champions, he took himself to a new level. Law didn't just want to beat England, he wanted to knock them down and he made no secret of it.
In a Scottish career that lasted 16 years and scored 30 goals in 55 games, it was a day that will live forever.
That year, 1967, saw United win the league again, and it was merely a warm-up routine for what would follow in 1968.
Sadly, Law missed out on the glory of Wembley and the emotion that flooded Busby's side that won the European Cup a decade after his children died in Munich.
He was injured in the semi-finals and final. His body began to fail. Cortisone injections were often needed to get through it.
On the night of the final he was in a Manchester hospital recovering from knee surgery. Busby arrived at his bedside the next day carrying the trophy.
Law recovered, scoring 30 goals in 45 games in the 1968-69 season, but United's great power was on the verge of collapse.
Busby left, to be replaced by Wilf McGuinness. McGuinness left, to be replaced by Frank O'Farrell. O'Farrell left, to be replaced by Tommy Docherty.
The good times are gone. And soon Law will disappear as well.
It hurt him, there's no doubt about that. He returned to City even though he was nearing the end of the road.
In City's last match of the 1973–74 season, against relegation-chased United at Old Trafford, Law famously scored a back-heel goal to give City a 1–0 lead nine minutes from time.
United were relegated. The story has been retold many times, in almost poetic terms, of how Law sealed the fate of the club he loved most, but never did.
The results elsewhere meant they were on the decline no matter what Lu did, but it bothered him nonetheless. “I have rarely felt so depressed as I did this weekend,” he later said.
Law went to the 1974 World Cup finals and started the season with City, but retired almost immediately on 10 August. His body had had enough.
His greatness was established long before he kicked his last ball, and it will endure through generations and into eternity.
