A complete midfielder rarely has any flaws in their game, and that was the case for Barcelona icon Xavi. The Spaniard fit seamlessly with the Catalans' tiki-taka style, which saw them dominate Europe under Pep Guardiola in an era dubbed 'the best Barca' by the club itself.
Xavi was one of the Blaugrana's three midfield maestros, toying with the opposition alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. The trio starred for club and country, as part of the Spain national team that won the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2010.
It's a shame the iconic Spaniard never graced England with his presence, but he showcased his world-class ability in the UEFA Champions League year after year. There aren't many midfielders past and present who come close to matching his class, but he once suggested the Three Lions possessed a player who "had everything".
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Xavi: England Star Deserved To Shine Brighter
"The best central midfielder I have ever seen"
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Xavi's admiration for English football dates back to his childhood, when he watched the likes of Southampton hero Matt Le Tissier and Liverpool legend John Barnes. He once told FourFourTwo that "England breathes football in a way Spain doesn’t. In England, a footballer is like a god."
While that statement has merit, there is no denying that his former teammate, Lionel Messi, was worshipped as a god during his Barcelona spell. The Argentine icon was the icing on the Catalan cake upon their lengthy stranglehold on Spanish football, flourishing alongside Xavi.
Many deem Guardiola's Barca side to be the best team in football history, and you'd have difficulty trying to displace any of the star-studded XI. But there was one Englishman whom not only was Xavi an admirer of, but also many of his allies.
Xavi spoke glowingly about one of the Premier League's all-time greats when speaking in 2011 (via The Daily Mail):
"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."
It's not unusual to hear a Spaniard highlight how highly-regarded Paul Scholes was. Guardiola named the Manchester United legend the one player he wished he'd coached, while Ander Herrera claimed to have studied his game upon joining the Red Devils.
Xavi delved into Scholes' style of play before making a bold suggestion about England's lack of appreciation:
"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."
Xavi dubbed Scholes his "idol" and first encountered him at the age of 18 during Barcelona's trip to Old Trafford in the Champions League in September 1998. This was arguably the Englishman's finest season, thriving in a treble-winning United team.
Scholes netted in a 3-3 draw against the Catalan giants that night, one of four goals he scored in 10 games in the competition. He was the lynchpin in Sir Alex Ferguson's midfield and a marvellous playmaker whose versatility allowed him to dictate games.
Xabi Alonso on England's Use Of Scholes
The ex-Man United star was moved to left midfield
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Scholes became one of Manchester United's most successful players. That wasn't quite the case for England's national team. He was a member of the 'Golden Generation' that struggled to reach expectations, although he was a standout performer at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
That was through no fault of his own once Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard took up the central midfield roles in the Three Lions' team. Scholes was moved out to the left to accommodate the Liverpool captain and Chelsea's prolific midfielder.
Xabi Alonso, who played alongside Gerrard at Anfield, was asked about how England had used Scholes to try to fit all three into the team. He said in 2011 (via The Guardian).
"That's a press debate. I'm not saying that. But the collective ideal hasn't always been there. Paul Scholes maybe hasn't had the international career he should have. Or Michael Carrick: he makes those around him better, regardless of the fact that he's not the one who scores the most goals, or a great tackler."
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes' Career
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Scholes insisted he didn't mind playing on the left as he'd performed the role at United. But he pointed out that former manager Sven Goran Eriksson thought Gerrard and Lampard were "better suited to playing in the middle".
The Salford-born midfielder represented his country for seven years before calling time on his international career in June 2004. United benefited from this as he focused on club football for eight more years at Old Trafford, aside from a brief career break.
All statistics courtesy ofTransfermarkt - correct as of 10.06.2025
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