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The Frenchman dismissed two of his former colleagues to pick a former Manchester United star as the best midfielder in Premier League history
Claude Makelele has weighed in on one of football’s most heated debates: who was the best Premier League midfielder of all time?
In what some may see as a surprise twist, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid enforcer didn't choose his old teammate Frank Lampard or rivals Steven Gerrard and Yaya Toure.
Makelele praises Scholes' supremacy
The ex-Blue was asked on “Rio Meets’ hosted by former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand to pick from a stacked shortlist including Lampard, Gerrard, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira, and Yaya Toure.
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Makelele responded saying, “I would go for Scholes, because he was complete.” That is elite praise from a man who redefined the defensive midfield role and won titles across Europe.
Makelele saw more than just goals and assists in Paul Scholes, describing the Englishman as his footballing twin, saying, “He’s like me. Fighter, technique, brain.”
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Makelele admired Scholes’ intelligence, subtle aggression, and technical finesse, saying he represents the kind of character Manchester United should bring back to guide the next generation.
Scholes towers above Premier League legends in Makelele’s books
Despite his quiet nature, Scholes’ impact was massive with 107 goals, 55 assists, 11 titles in 499 Premier League appearances, and a legacy that commands respect.
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So much so that Makelele was willing to pass over the glittering résumés of players he shared the pitch with.
Despite playing 195 games alongside Lampard, more than any other teammate, it was Scholes who left the deeper impression on Makelele.
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Gerrard, whom he called the toughest to face, and Vieira, a fellow French legend, also missed the cut, and Ivorian legend Yaya Toure didn’t get a mention either.
For Makelele, Scholes had it all, composure, grit, and class, and in his eyes, stands alone at the top of the Premier League midfield pyramid.
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