Wayne Rooney named Paul Scholes as the best player he played with during his career, according to Sky Sports. The former Manchester United forward highlighted the technical ability and control Scholes provided in the centre of the pitch. Rooney also identified Steven Gerrard as the most complete player amongst his former team-mates, noting his influence for England.
Rooney placed Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the top of his all-time rankings but focused on midfield impact for this selection, per The Guardian. He praised Gerrard for his ability to defend, score, and dictate play. Luka Modric and Andrea Pirlo also received mentions as world-class opponents he admired during his time in the Champions League.
Manchester United won five Premier League titles and the Champions League while Rooney and Scholes played together. The striker noted that Scholes was the only player who could control the tempo of a game entirely from a deep position. Rooney recently shared these reflections while discussing the evolution of midfield roles in the modern game.
