Paul Scholes Describes Barcelona Star Lionel Messi as 'The Greatest of Them All'

Paul Scholes played with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo when they were both at Manchester United but concedes that Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the greatest player he has shared a pitch with.

Scholes played against Messi in both the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals and said the Argentinian's ability to deliver on the big stage made him a unique talent. 

He explained why Messi was so good in his London Evening Standard preview of the Champions League final, writing: 

"

I think about the great players with whom I have shared a pitch: Eric Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, Ronaldo and the greatest of them all is Messi. I watched him at the Mestalla against Valencia in November and he looked less than interested. Since then he has been sensational. His scoring record, in terms of goals to games, is a phenomenon. But it is more than the goals, it is the games in which he scores them.

He scores them in the big games against the big teams and he does it season in, season out. He does not go missing even when, as with the World Cup finals, he looked tired or was carrying an injury. There are lots of good footballers who can come up with the goods every now and then. Messi does it every week, under a weight of expectation greater than any other player.

"

Messi will aim for his fourth Champions League title on Saturday, when Barcelona take on Juventus in Berlin.

[London Evening Standard]