Scholes selects the top 5 best midfielders that stun Premier League fans

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes shocked fans by leaving out Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo from the top 5 best midfielders globally, even though both are performing strongly in the Premier League.

In a recent episode of the podcast The Good, The Bad and The Football, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes revealed his list of the 5 best midfielders in world football today. What surprised fans was that two Premier League stars, Declan Rice (Arsenal) and Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), were not included, despite their impressive club form.

Paul Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles and 2 Champions League trophies during his career, stated that he values midfielders who can control the game, possess sharp tactical intelligence, and have a significant influence rather than just strength or ball-winning ability. Therefore, Scholes' list leans heavily toward true "brains" of modern European football.

When discussing Pedri, Scholes offered warm compliments: "When I was playing, I used to watch Barcelona on Saturdays and Real Madrid on Sundays. And recently, watching Pedri, all I could say was 'wow.' He’s like a blend of Xavi and Iniesta." The former English star believes the young Barca midfielder reminds him of the golden generation that built the glorious era at Camp Nou.

Regarding Rodri, Scholes shared: "He won the Ballon d'Or two years ago. Although he hasn’t been at his best due to injury, when fully fit, Rodri is the most complete midfielder in the world." He also mentioned that Manchester City's recent struggles with ball control partly stem from Rodri not yet regaining his full form.

Scholes did not forget to praise Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, stating that the Argentine player had “control over everything” in the victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford last season. Meanwhile, PSG’s Vitinha—who finished third in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting—was rated by Scholes as “outstanding in the Champions League and Club World Cup despite PSG losing in the final”.

After all, Paul Scholes revealed his top 5 midfielders he considers the best in the world today: Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Rodri, Vitinha, and Alexis Mac Allister.

With this highly personal list, the Manchester United legend once again shows his unique perspective on football. What do you think — do Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo deserve to be in Paul Scholes’ top 5?