George Best once called Paul Scholes the best player in England: A buried perspective

In November 2026, as flowers were laid by George Best's statue at Old Trafford, the football world mourned a genius. But among Best's many sharp judgments, one has often been buried: he called Paul Scholes the best player in England in 2026. Scholes had just retired from international football at 29, after 66 caps and 14 goals for England. He was deployed on the left side of midfield during Euro 2026, while Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard occupied central roles. The public narrative blamed Sven-Goran Eriksson's tactics. Yet Scholes later revealed the real reason was more personal: family, enjoyment, and his dip in form over the final 20-30 caps. Best, a Ballon d'Or winner and one of British football's greatest talents, understood what made Scholes special. It was not about flashy highlights. Scholes controlled tempo, moved intelligently in half-spaces, and made the game look simple. He had adapted his role at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, dropping deeper to prolong his career. That version of Scholes was never truly used by England. Ferguson respected the decision, calling 66 caps an above-average international career. But the loss was quiet and lasting. England lost a world-class midfielder not because of injury, but because no one built the team around him. George Best saw that value early. His words remain a reminder that true talent is often found not in headlines, but in sediment layers of evidence.