Xavi reveals the one midfielder who was even greater than he was

Xavi gave special praise to ‘the best midfielder’ of his generation.

In his esteemed career, the Spanish sensation proved himself as one of the greatest players of all time, dazzling fans at the Camp Nou with his slick skills and sublime passing ability.

However, as good as the all-time great was, the legend believes there was one other player who was even more ‘complete’ than him.

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Xavi said Paul Scholes was the greatest midfielder of his generation

Like Xavi, Paul Scholes was a truly gifted player, utilizing his exceptional vision to deliver precise passes to his teammates. 

His magnificent displays caught the attention of fans far and wide, with the footballing universe often left in awe by his explosive performances, with his goals against Aston Villa and Bradford going down as two of the best in the history of English football.

However, it’s not just the supporters that took note of the Manchester United icon’s brilliance, with Xavi conceding during a 2011 interview with the Daily Mail that the playmaker was the best midfielder of his era.

He explained: “In the last 15 to 20 years, the best central midfielder that I have seen – the most complete – is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything.

“He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball, and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish, then maybe he would have been valued more.”

Did Xavi or Paul Scholes ever win the Ballon d’Or?

Both Xavi and Scholes carved their legacies in stone, with their displays for their respective clubs, to be remembered for a very long time to come.

They both gave their fans an array of spectacular memories, particularly against each other’s sides, with the Spaniard tearing Manchester United apart with his laser-like passing in the 2011 Champions League final, and the Englishman scoring an absolute thunderbolt of a goal in the semi-final of the same competition two years earlier.

The pair dominated their leagues, with Xavi winning eight La Liga titles, while Scholes picked up a whopping 11 Premier League medals.

While neither man ever won the Ballon d’Or, those who understand ‘the beautiful game’ are more than aware of just how brilliant these two men were in their peaks.

Featured Image Credit: Getty