adminLONDON. — Paul Scholes says Barcelona star Lionel Messi is the best player he’s ever shared a pitch with — placing him ahead of former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Argentine star (27) will bid to claim his fourth Champions League winners’ medal when Barca face Juventus in Berlin tonight.
And Scholes, who came up against Messi on no fewer than four occasions, places Messi above a number of world class stars past and present.
In his Independent column, Scholes wrote: “I think about the great players with whom I have shared a pitch: Eric Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo — and the greatest of them all is Messi.”
Scholes, who was infamously suspended for the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich after picking up a booking in the semi-final against Juventus, had a word of advice for the Turin outfit ahead of the final.
The 40-year-old urged Juventus to take note of Manchester United’s defeat to Barcelona in the 2011 Champions League final if they are to have any chance of success against Luis Enrique’s side.
The former England midfielder says United were wrong to try and go toe-to-toe with Barca at Wembley four seasons ago when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were humbled 3-1.
And Scholes reckons the same thing will happen to Juve if they try and take the Spanish champions on at their own game.
“I don’t see any alternative for Juventus,” Scholes wrote in his Independent column. — The Mirror.
Online Reporter