“No disrespect to Steven Gerrard but…” — Guardiola

For the uninitiated, the age old question of who is the greatest midfielder of all time between Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard was a football debate that predated the height of the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate.

For years, football fans have argued about who among Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes was the greatest English midfielder of their generation. These legends dominated the Premier League, but never quite gelled together on the international stage. Now, Pep Guardiola—arguably one of the best managers in modern football—has revealed his pick for the top spot.

In a candid conversation with Rio Ferdinand, Guardiola didn’t hesitate to declare Paul Scholes as his favorite, praising the Manchester United icon’s all-around game.

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“All respect to Frank [Lampard], to Steven [Gerrard] but Paul Scholes is my favourite one. I love it. I think he had everything but the other two, come on, Frank and Steven Gerrard changed this… Paul Scholes is my favourite.”

While acknowledging the brilliance of Lampard and Gerrard, Guardiola’s preference for Scholes speaks volumes, especially given the Catalan’s commitment to a style of play that prizes technical excellence and football intelligence—qualities Scholes had in abundance.

The debate rages on, but when one of the game’s greatest minds sides with Scholes, it’s hard not to reconsider where you stand. Guardiola’s words have reignited a fiery discussion among fans, with many now questioning if the Manchester United maestro was, in fact, the most complete midfielder England has ever produced.

So, is it time to settle the debate once and for all? According to Pep, Scholes is the one who truly stands above the rest.