The Norwegian is on Charlton's elite list headed by striking greats Ferenc Puskas and Jimmy Greaves.
"Ole is one of the best finishers I have ever seen. He was phenomenal," Charlton said.
"He had the same instincts in front of goals and scoring qualities of Puskas and Greaves."
It's an accolade of some magnitude from the Old Trafford director and legend who holds the club's appearance record.
Charlton played with, and against, the world's great hitmen and has travelled the globe watching the cream of football's goalscorers.
Puskas scored 598 goals in 614 matches while Greaves bagged 410 from 587. But Charlton had no hesitation grouping Solskjaer with both of those greats.
Thinker
"Ole was a lethal forward and the qualities as a finisher that reminded me so much of Puskas and Greaves was firstly the fact he was a very quick thinker.
"He made his decision to hit a ball faster than most strikers and faster than goalkeepers expected. While they were setting themselves up for a shot Ole had already hit the ball.
"Also, in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper you would bet your life on Ole finishing. He never missed, just like Puskas and Greaves.
"I think that ability to think and strike quicker than most was never better illustrated than his Champions League-winning goal against Bayern Munich in Barcelona.
"There was nobody more likely to score that goal than Ole. We'd had trouble getting into the box and we needed the bounce of the ball in there.
"Once we did that then he was the ideal person to react quickly to Teddy Sheringham's knock on."
But it is not solely Solskjaer's ability as a player that saw a groundswell of affection and respect for the Norwegian.
"Ole was very personable, polite and a true professional," added Sir Bobby.
"If anything needed to be done for the club, then he was always the first to put his hand up to do it. He did things correctly. He was someone that you could put in a crowd of people and they'd be able to speak to him and he would be very receptive.
Dream
"He's a very nice young man and I know, for instance, the people at UNICEF like him and appreciate his work.
"Ole has not been an ounce of trouble at United and on and off the field he is a manager's dream. He's been a great ambassador for us and I hope he will be able to stay on in some capacity."
Sir Alex Ferguson also paid his tribute to the 34-year-old.
"Ole has achieved everything a player could ever wish to achieve," said the United boss.
"He has been a great servant to the club and has always remained a model professional in his responsibility as a player, in his demeanour and his manners have always been exemplary. Ole will, hopefully, go on to be a good coach.
"Ending your playing career is a sad day for anyone. In the case of Ole, he has 11 fantastic years he can look back on."
In the summer of 1996 former Manchester City defender Aage Hareide received a call from Fergie.
Hareide was manager at Norwegian side Molde. It was a conversation he'd been part dreading.
"Sir Alex phoned me up a lot to get my opinion on players in Norway," Aage said.
"He knew I knew Manchester and the English scene and wanted my views on certain players and how they might do in England.
"Then finally came the day when the call was about one of my players. Sir Alex asked about Ole Gunnar. I knew we would miss him badly but you can't stand in a player's way when Manchester United come along.
Dedication
"I told him: `You've got to sign him.' And he did. United got him for £1.5m! I think they owe me some money considering what they got!
"I knew he had the skill and dedication to succeed even at such a huge club. Ole was always a keen planner and wanted to learn and improve. He always had a goal. He was very dedicated.
"But he would never go anywhere unless he felt he was ready. He wouldn't have gone to United if he hadn't felt it was the right time.
"He told me once that Hamburg and Cagliari from Italy were interested in him. But he didn't feel he was ready to leave Norway so he stayed.
"But he's a quick learner. He knows how to adapt and behave so when he went to United I felt he was suited to both the club and to Sir Alex Ferguson.
"The great thing about Ole is he has never changed. I worked with him at Molde and then 11 years later I worked with him again when he returned to the Norwegian international squad and I was his manager. He was the same Ole.
"No matter what he had achieved in between he was still the same guy.
"Still dedicated, still a great professional and still a person who glued together the team on and off the field. He never sailed under a false flag. He was always genuine.
"As a footballer and a manager a lot of players pass through your lives. Most are acquaintances but I count Ole as a friend."
Old Trafford chief executive David Gill added: "Ole has provided us all with some exceptional memories during his time here at the club.
"Nobody will ever forget his dramatic winner in Barcelona, but much more than that his dedication and professionalism make him one of the great role models in football.
"Ole will be dearly missed as a player, but will go on to serve the club as an ambassador and a valuable coach."
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Nazry, kl (29/08/2007 at 11:52)