Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
There was a time when Thierry Henry's mere presence was enough to put defenders on edge. His blend of explosive pace, technique and flair was almost impossible to contain, and it played a major role in his dominance of the Premier League.
Any discussion of the best players to have ever played in the English top-flight would be incomplete without mentioning the Frenchman, with many arguing that he easily deserves a place on the podium. Yet when Henry was asked to name the greatest Premier League player of all time, he modestly chose not to include himself.
Instead, his surprising choice was not one of the hugely gifted attackers who once dominated the competition. Henry opted for a player who has arguably been underrated for much of his career.
Henry Named Paul Scholes as Greatest Premier League Player
Paul Scholes
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Henry named Manchester United icon Paul Scholes as the Premier League's greatest player, overlooking the likes of Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo. He explained:
"I would have to go Paul Scholes.
"I don't think people have given him the credit he deserves. (He's) one of the best, if not the best, I've played against, he could do anything. Unfortunately for him, when he was playing for the national team, for England, sometimes people didn't see it like that."
Henry added: "If I had a Paul Scholes in my team, everything would be around him. At Manchester United, they saw it like that, but I think Paul Scholes is one of the best I've played against in this league, and seen anywhere."
When it comes to his Premier League legacy, Scholes ranks among the most decorated players English football has produced. Counting the number of English top-flight titles he won requires more than two hands, an extraordinary achievement considering only one other player can claim more.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Only Ryan Giggs (13) has won more Premier League titles than Paul Scholes (11).
Considered one of the Premier League's greatest midfielders, there is little doubt about Scholes' ability either. He might not have produced the spectacular goalscoring numbers or attacking statistics associated with some of the more obvious names in this debate. However, he is frequently recognised as the creative heartbeat behind one of the most devastating attacking teams the league has ever witnessed, which is an achievement in itself.
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Paul Scholes' Premier League Career Statistics
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Scholes Has Often Been Underrated by His Peers
Rooney Scholes
Barcelona legend Xavi also once spoke glowingly about Scholes in a 2011 interview, arguing that the midfielder might have received greater recognition had historical circumstances been different.
"In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen, the most complete, is Scholes.
"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."
The Spaniard was clear about Scholes' exceptional quality, although it is fair to suggest that plenty of others throughout history may have overlooked it, partly because of the type of player he was and the footballing environment around him.
During his time at Old Trafford, Manchester United were consistently packed with world-class talent, with stars regularly moving in and out of the squad. Scholes remained a constant presence, but much of the attention naturally went to headline names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and others.
Paul Scholes named best Champions League players he faced
Paul Scholes named best Champions League players he faced
At international level, Scholes competed for recognition alongside two of England's best-ever midfielders, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. He ultimately made the positional sacrifice, moving to the left side of midfield to accommodate his teammates rather than occupying his favoured central role.
Ultimately, although Scholes rarely enjoyed the same level of spotlight as some of his teammates and rivals, his ability has been recognised by some of football's biggest legends. Henry and Xavi both holding him in such high regard is a strong indication of just how much quality he brought to the pitch.
Statistics Courtesy of Transfermarkt - Correct as of 12-09-26.