"the better" vs "the best" of two players

I used the book "Grammar and Style" and one example confused me:

He was the better/ best of two players.

The answer was the better but learners wonder how is it true since we use best after the definite article, the.

Was the answer given above correct?

Solution 1:

It is true that a superlative, when it pre-modifies a noun attributively, is usually preceded by the definite article, as in He was the best player in the team. It is also true that the comparative is often preceded by the indefinite article, as in He was a better player after he had extra coaching. But where one player is being compared with another, the definite article is required, as in He was the better of the two players. You cannot say that one player is the best when only two are being compared.