The Manchester United legend has spoken openly about caring for his son, who is autistic and non-verbal.
Paul Scholes in front of a TV camera.
Paul Scholes has given up live TV work to spend more time with his son.
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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has sent a heart-warming message to his son Aiden on his 21st birthday.
Aiden has severe autism and is non-verbal, with Scholes recently sharing the challenges and rewards of caring for him. The ex-United and England footballer, now 51, took a step back from live TV work at the end of last season to spend more time with Aiden.
Taking to social media platform Instagram on Monday, Scholes shared a picture of Aiden, along with the caption: "Happy 21st birthday our special boy @aidenlukescholes... wish you knew how much we all love you xxx."
The message prompted replies from former United teammates. Gary Neville, responded in the comments section with three red heart emojis, while Patrice Evra wrote "Joyeux anniversaire", which translates from French as Happy Birthday.
Nicky Butt responded with two applause, two celebration and a red heart emoji. Scholes' ex-England teammate, John Terry, also replied with two blue heart emojis.
The message comes after Scholes opened up about the difficulties of receiving the diagnosis for Aiden, when he was young. At the time, Scholes was playing for United.
He told the Stick to Football podcast: "He'd bite your arm or scratch you just out of frustration for him, 'cos he didn't understand things, couldn't tell you how he was feeling. I never got a break from it, even when playing.
"It was very hard in those days, and feels like it was years ago. I don't think (the doctors) diagnosed it until they were two-and-a-half years old.
"But you knew early something was wrong, but then you get the diagnosis, and I'd never heard of it. Then, all of a sudden you start seeing everything, I don't know if it just consciously happens, I don't know."
Scholes also spoke about the decision he made not to tell anyone at the club. "I just thought even if I did speak to someone about it, it's not going to help Aiden," he said.
When asked if it would have helped him, he replied: "I don't know what would help me."
Scholes had built up a positive reputation in punditry since retiring from football. Last season, he was part of TNT Sports' coverage of United's journey to the Europa League final.
He has, however, now decided to take a step back. Scholes is instead involved in a podcast with Butt and Paddy McGuinness called The Good, The Bad & The Football.
The decision to move away from live TV is so he can spend more time with his son. Scholes revealed: "I do studio work, but everything is built around his day.
"Last season on Thursday nights I'd do the Europa League for Man Utd, that's the night I'd usually have him, so he was getting all agitated, biting and scratching.
"He knows the pattern's not there straightaway. And I did that for years really, always thinking I've got to stop this at some point so I had the chance to do the podcast and I thought that would suit me more, well not me, Aiden."