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According to a report by London Evening Standard on Wednesday October 28, 2026, Carlos Tevez has identified former Manchester United teammate Paul Scholes as the greatest footballer he ever played alongside, placing the legendary midfielder above global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The Argentine forward spent two memorable seasons at Old Trafford, featuring in a devastating attacking lineup alongside Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov during Manchester United's successful period under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Tevez earned admiration for his tireless running, aggressive approach and attacking ability. Rooney previously described him as his favourite former strike partner, reflecting their impressive understanding during United's trophy-laden spell together.
During those two seasons, Manchester United collected six trophies, including consecutive Premier League championships and the 2008 Champions League. Despite later joining fierce rivals Manchester City, Tevez still treasures his Old Trafford experiences.
Speaking during an appearance on Rio Ferdinand's podcast, the former Argentina international discussed the exceptional quality of his previous teammates and explained why Scholes stood above other outstanding footballers he encountered.
Ferdinand asked Tevez to choose between Scholes and former Manchester City midfielder David Silva while recalling United's formidable attacking options. The question prompted an immediate response from the retired striker.
“Scholes,” Tevez replied, confidently selecting the English midfielder. He then emphasised his admiration, declaring, “For me, the best player,” before explaining what made the former United star so special.
Tevez remembered Scholes' remarkable simplicity and precision during training sessions, highlighting how effectively he distributed possession without unnecessary conversation or complicated movements, consistently demonstrating his exceptional technical ability and football intelligence.
“Do you remember at training? Like this, no speak, nothing. First ball,” Tevez explained, describing the midfielder's calm approach. He praised Scholes' passing, repeatedly emphasising the quality of his distribution.
The former striker also mentioned Italian legend Andrea Pirlo when discussing midfield excellence, placing Scholes alongside another celebrated playmaker. His comments underline the lasting respect Scholes commands among footballers who shared the pitch with him.