Paul Scholes is the best

Messi is definetely the best but Iniesta and Xavi are IMO the most important parts of both teams, especially when you see that Messi is not playing for Spain and yet Spain keeps on winning major trophies.

Scholes in his prime or no prime would get controlled by Xavi.

Scholes in his prime was a magnificent attacking midfielder who would not be up against Xavi?

No he wouldn't, did Scholes ever dominate the midfield like Xavi is?

That's why I asked you, when was the last time Barcelona or Spain lost a midfield battle when Xavi was on the pitch?

That's why I asked you, when was the last time Barcelona or Spain lost a midfield battle when Xavi was on the pitch?

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You're talking about the whole midfield now and they are the best by far.
Xavi is part of a team that dominates, he's not a lone ranger.

And yes I have seen Scholes dominate a game and this is without the help of some true world class team mates.
Like I said earlier, I do think he is overrated a little when people say he was the best English player ever or the best player of his generation but at his best, he was a real great player.

Xavi is the crucial part of why Barca and Spain are controlling the game for many years, I've never seen a team to be so dominant as Barcelona is now, they haven't lost possesion for over 5 years. Xavi might not be a lone ranger but he is the key part at that.

" i read an interview with xavi that was in the guardian a few weeks ago where the man himself said that he based his game on that of paul scholes, and that he held him in the highest regard."

Man Utd fans never miss to make up interviews to support their case on how good Scholes is/was. Rubbish!!!

never did it at the highest level (international)

international is not the highest level. the chapions league has the highest and most challenging standard of football. i hjave not seen a high standard of football in an international match for a very long time.

so has scholes performed in the chapions league?

yes! he scored the goal that put united in the final in 2008, against barcelona no less, and set up rooney for his goal that gave united a lead heading to the ssan siro against ac milan. those are just 2 examples of how scholes pulled the strings for man utd in the highest level of football, the champions league.

p.s. this is not to say that i don't care about the world cup, but only that i don't rate the standard of football. the last world cup was rubbish in that regard.

But it is the greatest stage where the best players prove there worth

xavi maradona pele zidane

scholes was shifted to the left by gerrard and lamps

when he was fabregas's age was he this good ? no