England Team Group (br) Frank Lampard, Emile Heskey, David James, Danny Mills, Gareth Southgate, Matthew Upson, (fr) Phil Neville, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, Ashley Cole before the International Friendly match between England and Serbia & Montenegro at Walkers Stadium
Marco Materazzi has given his verdict on who was the best out of Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard
The debate over who is the superior player among Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard has persisted for well over a decade. But Marco Materazzi - a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad - has weighed in with his verdict on who reigns triumphant in this long-standing argument.
During their time, England's midfield was fortunate to have three such illustrious figures as options. Despite their individual brilliance, the trio famously struggled to gel effectively within the national team, often at the expense of tactical balance.
Yet when it comes to singling out the most exceptional talent from Manchester United great Scholes, ex-Liverpool skipper Gerrard or Chelsea luminary Lampard, Materazzi was resolute in his choice. And the response is sure to stir controversy among supporters from two of these clubs.
While featuring on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, sponsored by Qatar Airways, Materazzi faced the tough question of picking the best from the legendary English trio. Having encountered each during his playing days, Materazzi pondered before revealing his pick.
"It's not easy. It's not an easy question," he said. "But, okay, my son loves Frank Lampard, I say Frank Lampard for my son."
Ex-United defender Ferdinand further probed Materazzi on which of the three most resembled Andrea Pirlo the most. Surprisingly, it was the player with significantly less international experience who Materazzi felt fitted that bill. "Pirlo is totally different. Maybe Scholes," he said. "Because he's clever, he's smart."
Despite his legendary status at Inter Milan - where he won a Champions League title, five Serie A crowns and four Coppa Italia trophies - the iconic figure still placed Pirlo "a bit higher" than Scholes. This esteem for Pirlo comes despite his compatriot's long tenure at AC Milan, Inter's greatest rivals.
Lampard and Gerrard are among the most capped players for England, having turned out 106 and 114 times, respectively. Only three players – David Beckham with 115 caps, Wayne Rooney with 120, and Peter Shilton leading with 125 – have donned the Three Lions' jersey more often than the latter.
One can see how Scholes, 50, could be likened to Pirlo due to his technical prowess on the pitch, renowned most for his exceptional passing. And that attribute became an even greater focus for Scholes later in his career.
Lampard and Gerrard were both prolific for Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively, maintaining impressive scoring records throughout their careers. Gerrard in particular demonstrated supreme versatility at Anfield and played in various roles across the park to suit the needs of his team.
Materazzi - notorious for being headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final, resulting in a red card for the Frenchman – earned 41 caps for Italy. In his sole game against England, Materazzi was part of a side that clinched a 2-1 victory in a friendly match in March 2002.
However, he did have a role in eliminating Lampard's Chelsea team on the way to securing the Champions League title under Jose Mourinho in 2010. His contribution was limited to a substitute appearance during a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, where Didier Drogba was sent off.
Listen to the full Rio Meets Marco Materazzi interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.