The debate over who was the best midfielder among Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes has been a long-standing topic of discussion among football fans. However, when Wayne Rooney, who had the opportunity to play alongside all three players, speaks on the matter, his opinion holds weight.
Rooney, an Evertonian who later became Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer, firmly stated that Gerrard was the winner. In an interview on the Overlap, Rooney praised all three midfielders for their unique qualities but ultimately declared Gerrard as the best all-rounder. According to Rooney, Gerrard possessed the ability to defend, pass, run, tackle, score goals, and excel in set pieces.
While Lampard was exceptional in terms of goalscoring from midfield, Rooney acknowledged that he may not have matched Gerrard or Scholes in terms of technical ability. However, there was no one better at finding the back of the net from a midfield position than Lampard. As for Scholes, Rooney admired his versatility and adaptability. Starting almost as a striker in his early years, Scholes transitioned to the number 10 position, then to midfield, and finally to a deeper position where he dictated the game like no other. Rooney believed that neither Gerrard nor Lampard could dictate games in the same way Scholes could.
After praising all three midfielders, Rooney ultimately concluded that Gerrard was the best. He even went as far as saying that Gerrard could have excelled at Manchester United just like Scholes did at Liverpool. Gary Neville, another former Manchester United player, agreed with Rooney’s assessment and insisted that Scholes was not better than Gerrard.
The Liverpool supporters on X reacted positively to Rooney’s comments, largely agreeing with his views. They argued that Scholes was not better than Gerrard deep down and that even players like Kevin De Bruyne could not compare to the Liverpool legend. Some supporters even went as far as suggesting that if Gerrard had played for Real Madrid, he would be talked about in the same breath as Zinedine Zidane.
Interestingly, during Rooney’s time with the England national team, he played with Ashley Cole and Lampard the most, sharing the pitch with them on 70 occasions. However, he played with Gerrard 69 times, and together they scored seven goals, the highest tally among all his England teammates. This on-field chemistry and success further solidified Rooney’s opinion on Gerrard’s abilities.
In recent years, both Rooney and Gerrard have transitioned into managerial roles. Rooney has taken charge at Plymouth, who will be competing in the Championship next season, while Gerrard remains the manager of Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
Overall, Rooney’s opinion on the Gerrard, Lampard, and Scholes debate carries weight due to his firsthand experience playing alongside all three midfielders. His assessment of Gerrard as the best all-rounder and his belief that Scholes could not match Gerrard’s impact at Liverpool resonated with Liverpool supporters and fans of the game alike.