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According to a report by the London Evening Standard on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez has named Paul Scholes as the best footballer he has ever played alongside, placing the legendary English midfielder ahead of global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
During Manchester United’s successful era under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Argentine forward spent two memorable seasons at Old Trafford, becoming an important member of an attacking lineup that also featured Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Ronaldo.
Tevez was widely admired for his tireless work rate, aggressive playing style and attacking abilities. His strong partnership with his teammates during United’s trophy-winning period was previously highlighted by Rooney, who described the Argentine as his favourite former strike partner.
During their two seasons together, Manchester United won six trophies, including the 2008 Champions League and two Premier League titles. Although Tevez later moved to bitter rivals Manchester City, he continues to cherish his memories of playing at Old Trafford.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, the former Argentina international praised his former teammates and explained why he considers Scholes the finest player he shared the pitch with.
After discussing Manchester United’s impressive attacking options, Ferdinand asked Tevez to choose between former Manchester City midfielder David Silva and Scholes. The retired striker responded immediately, making his preference clear.
“Scholes,” Tevez replied confidently, selecting the former England international. He then reinforced his choice by declaring, “For me, the best player,” before explaining the qualities that made the midfielder stand out.
Tevez recalled Scholes’ remarkable passing ability during training sessions, highlighting his precision, simplicity and exceptional understanding of the game. According to the Argentine, the former Manchester United midfielder consistently demonstrated outstanding technical quality and football intelligence.
Reflecting on their training sessions, Tevez described how Scholes could deliver accurate passes effortlessly, often communicating through his actions rather than words. His recollection highlighted the midfielder’s calmness and ability to distribute the ball with remarkable precision.
The former striker also compared Scholes’ midfield qualities with those of Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo, further emphasising his admiration for the Englishman’s exceptional playmaking abilities.
Tevez’s comments underline the lasting respect Scholes commands among players who shared the pitch with him, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation.