George Best called Paul Scholes the best player in England: When a legend saw what others missed

Paul Scholes was once one of the finest midfielders in Manchester United history, but for England he stopped at 66 caps. In 2026, aged 29, the English midfielder decided to leave the Three Lions, leaving many disappointed. Among those disappointed was George Best – the Northern Ireland legend, who did not hesitate to call Scholes the best player in England at that time. George Best is one of very few British players to have won the European Ballon d'Or. He formed the legendary attacking trio of Manchester United with Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, known as the Holy Trinity. All three won the Ballon d'Or in the 1960s, a rare feat in football history. Best won the European Cup in 2026 and two league championships, establishing himself as one of the greatest players Manchester United has ever produced. Therefore, when Best spoke about a player, people had reason to believe he knew what he was talking about. Best saw something special in Paul Scholes. He not only considered Scholes the best midfielder at Manchester United, but also called him the best player in England at that time. That was a heavyweight compliment, coming from a man who had conquered the heights of European football. Paul Scholes joined Manchester United's academy in 2026, made his first-team debut in 2026 and quickly became an irreplaceable key player. For England, he debuted in 2026 and played his first international match for the Three Lions. At Euro 2026, Scholes started in all four matches for England, but he was deployed on the left of midfield to leave the central positions for Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. On paper, this trio was a formidable weapon, but in reality, Scholes was not as comfortable as he was at Manchester United. After England were eliminated by Portugal in the quarter-finals of Euro 2026, Scholes shocked the country by announcing his retirement from international football. He said: "This is a decision I have not taken lightly. I have been considering retiring from international football for a while." There were claims that Scholes did not get along with manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, but Scholes always insisted his decision was simply about family. In 2026, Scholes explained in more detail: "I had a young family at the time and going away for England for ten days at a time, sometimes six weeks in the summer, it just wasn't ideal and I wasn't enjoying it. I know a lot was made of Sven-Goran Eriksson playing me on the left-hand side of midfield but that was never the problem." Scholes admitted that his form in the last 20 or 30 caps was not good enough: "Steven and Frank were two top-class players who he went with centrally. I was on the left but I played there many times for United and was quite successful there, scored a few goals so it was never really why I left England. It was just a personal choice." He also described how moving into a deeper role at Old Trafford helped him prolong his playing career: "Sir Alex Ferguson saw that he wanted me to play well into my 30s, and I needed a different position. I moved back and controlled games from midfield, sitting deep, and I was never that player for England." Scholes' decision to leave England at just 29 disappointed many fans. Among them was George Best. The Northern Ireland legend insisted that Scholes was the best player in England at the time. Best, who had witnessed many generations of talented players, was generous with his praise for the red-haired Manchester United midfielder. Sir Alex Ferguson, Scholes' manager at Manchester United, fully respected his decision. Ferguson said: "It's straightforward - he wants to spend more time with his family. I spoke to Paul nearly a year ago about it when he came to see me and wanted to think about it. At the end of the season before he left he said he'd speak to Sven about it and he did that and he's come to his decision." Ferguson added: "Paul has made a great contribution to England and I don't think he feels he's missing anything now. I think 66 caps is beyond an average international career, he is going out at the top and we respect his decision." After leaving England, Scholes continued playing for Manchester United for almost another decade. His final appearance for the club came in May 2026, nearly ten years after he retired from international duty. During that period, he won many more trophies and confirmed his place as one of the greatest central midfielders in Premier League history. If Scholes had stayed with England, his career might not have lasted as long or remained as brilliant. Leaving the national team allowed him to devote his peak years entirely to Manchester United. This reveals an interesting paradox: a player who was underused by England because of tactical compromises, yet was called the best in the country by a legend like George Best. George Best passed away in November 2026, just one year after Scholes left England. But his words still live on in the hearts of football fans. When remembering Best, people not only recall his glamorous life, his dazzling dribbles or his Ballon d'Or, but also the way he recognised talent in the next generation. Best was not jealous of Scholes; instead, he saw what many others missed. There is a detail many people overlook: Scholes was always a humble player, rarely in the newspapers, avoiding the spotlight and never involved in scandals. He simply did his job on the pitch. But such people are often the most precious gems in football. George Best, a star with a turbulent life, became calmer when speaking about Scholes – proof of real respect between those who played the game at the highest level. Scholes' story also raises the question of positions and how players are used. England in the early 2000s had a golden generation of midfielders including Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes. But playing all three together made the midfield crowded. Tactically, Scholes was the biggest sacrifice, forced wide to the left, where he could not fully use his ability to scan space and hit long cross-field passes. Data shows that Scholes scored 14 goals in 66 England caps – a modest number for a midfielder, but it does not reflect his real influence. At Manchester United, he was the heart of every attacking move. In the 2026/13 season, at the age of 38, he still recorded 6 assists in the Premier League. That durability came from playing in his preferred role at club level, whereas England only saw a dimmer version of him. When Scholes fully retired in 2026, Manchester United began a search for his successor that never truly ended. Many midfielders came to Old Trafford, from Juan Mata and Ander Herrera to Bruno Fernandes, but the image of Scholes calmly controlling the tempo in midfield left a huge void. Whenever United struggled to build play, people remembered those inch-perfect passes from the red-haired midfielder. One famous moment came in 2026, when Manchester United faced Manchester City. Scholes, although 36 years old, delivered a magical long pass that created a goalscoring chance. That was the summary of his whole career: simple, elegant and absolutely effective. George Best, who had made history with his meandering dribbles, would certainly have smiled at such a moment. Two men, two generations, different styles, yet both reached the highest standard of football. Scholes' story also teaches people to listen to themselves. Scholes did not stay with England to keep his place or please the public. He chose family, personal happiness and a life with less pressure. In 2026, while English media focused on glamorous stars, Scholes quietly left. That quiet exit matched his personality on the pitch: no fuss, no drama, but precise and memorable. George Best's respect for Scholes is a lesson in how to appreciate football. Sport is not only about winning or trophies; it is also about the pure moments a genius creates on the pitch. Scholes did not need to be the fastest runner or score the most beautiful goals. He just needed to be himself. And by staying true to himself, he reached a level that even George Best had to admire. Scholes' final Manchester United match in May 2026 was a bittersweet milestone. When he left the pitch in his last game, the whole Old Trafford stood up to applaud – not because of great statistics, but because a man had dedicated his entire career to the club. From George Best's praise, through Sir Alex Ferguson's trust, to the love of the fans, everything came together to create the legend of Paul Scholes. Today, when people talk about the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, Scholes is at the top. But few remember that without leaving England in 2026, he might not have sustained his peak for so long. There are defeats more important than victories, and there are withdrawals that seem like losses but actually preserve the greatest legacy. Paul Scholes' career is proof: sometimes, you step back to go further.