We used to compare the people as to who was better during the lifetime of Messenger of Allah ﷺ . We used to regard Abu Bakr as the best, then ʿUmar, and then ʿUthman .  

كُنَّا نُخَيِّرُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِي زَمَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَنُخَيِّرُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ثُمَّ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ ؓ