Paul Scholes has named Zinedine Zidane the greatest midfielder ever and praised Kevin De Bruyne as the best in the modern game, underlining how different eras reward different elite qualities. Scholes, who faced Zidane seven times for club and country, emphasised Zidane’s unrivalled ball control and influence on matches — a verdict that reshapes the midfield GOAT conversation.
Scholes crowns Zidane the greatest midfielder ever
Paul Scholes publicly described Zinedine Zidane as the greatest football midfielder of all time, singling out Kevin De Bruyne as the outstanding contemporary playmaker. Scholes’ assessment carries weight: he met Zidane on the pitch seven times across club and international fixtures, including their last notable meeting at Euro 2004.
Why Scholes’ verdict matters
Scholes isn’t an outside observer — he’s a peer who spent two decades at the elite level with Manchester United. When a midfielder of Scholes’ standing highlights ball retention and control as defining traits, it reframes how we value influence beyond raw statistics. This is not nostalgia; it’s an informed view from someone who lived the tactical battles Zidane excelled in.
Zidane’s case: mastery, moments and trophies
Zinedine Zidane’s résumé is the standard by which many measure midfield greatness. He won the 1998 Ballon d’Or, starred as France won the 1998 World Cup (scoring twice in the final), and helped lift Euro 2000.
At club level he shone for Juventus and then moved to Real Madrid for a then-world-record fee, becoming a central figure of the Galácticos era. Zidane’s game was defined by sublime first touches, spatial awareness and the ability to dictate tempo — qualities that consistently frustrated opponents, Scholes included.
Head-to-head: what the matchups revealed
Their seven meetings — across domestic and international stages — were revealing contests of style. Zidane’s ability to hold possession and create decisive moments often neutralised the aggressive pressing and transitional intensity midfielders like Scholes brought to the table. Those encounters give Scholes’ praise tangible context: it’s based on direct tactical conflict, not abstract admiration.
Kevin De Bruyne: the template for modern midfield excellence
Scholes also singled out Kevin De Bruyne as the best midfielder in today’s game, a choice that highlights how the role has evolved. De Bruyne’s strengths — rapid decision-making, relentless distance covered, and elite creative output for Manchester City — suit the high-tempo, press-resistant systems of the modern era.
Where Zidane dominated through control and artistry, De Bruyne excels through speed of delivery and relentless productivity.
Different eras, different criteria
This dual verdict underscores a key point: midfield greatness is not one-dimensional. The game’s demands have shifted toward quicker transitions and intense pressing, elevating players whose decisions and output match that environment. At the same time, Zidane’s influence remains a benchmark for artistry and match control — traits that are harder to quantify but no less decisive.
What this means for the GOAT debate
Scholes’ view doesn’t end the debate — it sharpens it. By privileging Zidane’s control while recognising De Bruyne’s modern brilliance, Scholes offers a framework for comparing eras: judge players by how they changed games within their tactical context. For fans and analysts, that approach encourages more nuanced comparisons rather than headline-grabbing lists.
Looking ahead
The conversation Scholes prompts will persist as new midfield talents emerge and tactical trends evolve.
Selfless Silva gives latest reminder of why Manchester City will miss him so much
For now, his verdict reaffirms Zidane’s status at the summit of midfield history while acknowledging that the mould for excellence has diversified — and that modern masters like De Bruyne deserve separate, serious consideration.
Givemesport
