Carlos Tevez didn’t hesitate to snub Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for clear ‘best player’ pick

Carlos Tevez told Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand that one iconic former player stood out more to him than both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The 42-year-old Argentine former forward shared a famous attacking trident with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney during his loan spell at Old Trafford.

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Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are widely regarded as two of the best players of all time alongside the likes of Diego Maradona and Pele. Ronaldo, who had two separate spells at Old Trafford, is currently in the tail end of his legendary playing career at Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

Messi, much like Ronaldo, is in the final stages of his illustrious career and has been playing at Sir David Beckham’s Inter Miami side since 2023 after his move to the MLS. Speaking to former Red Devils teammate Rio Ferdinand, Tevez was asked who he would pick out of Paul Scholes or David Silva in a head-to-head battle.

Tevez backed Paul Scholes ahead of ex-Manchester City teammate David Silva, but he took it one step further after putting his former Man Utd teammate ahead of Ronaldo and Messi as well.

“Scholes,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents, before adding: “For me, the best player [ever].

“For me, the best player. No, no, no, it’s Scholes. You remember the training [sessions]? ‘Look at this,’ no speak or nothing.”

Tevez added: “All day [in] training, pass, pass, pass. For me, the best; for me, the best.”

Scholes spent his entire playing career at Old Trafford across two separate spells and netted 155 times and registered 84 assists in 717 matches for United. The 51-year-old United legend lifted 11 Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary managerial reign at Old Trafford.

Man Utd’s ‘Class of ‘92’ star is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League midfielders of all time and in the history of football after his impact at Old Trafford. Scholes was a linchpin midfield influence for Ferguson after he broke out of the United youth academy in the 1990s and made the Red Devils first team at the Premier League club.