In stark contrast, Salford-born Paul Scholes was relatively quiet when he first jumped on the Old Trafford bandwagon, and has never looked back since. The camera-shy midfielder has come to be known as a one-club man, along with fellow team-mate Ryan Giggs, having spent their entire professional careers at Manchester United. Without the youthful exuberance of his younger colleagues, Scholes instead chooses to dazzle the Old Trafford faithful with his unrivaled ball-control, immaculate passing and dazzling long distance goals.
Okay, I concede, so do many footballers. But what makes Scholesy stand-out from the rest is his ability to choose not to stand-out. While Ronaldo makes more headlines courting beautiful women while recovering from his ankle injury in Los Angeles, Scholes would've given anything to be back home with his family in Lancashire, out of sight and mind.
But he's on pre-season duty instead, fullfilling one of his commitments that comes with playing for arguably the most popular football club in the world. What most people see as an iconic cementation in football history as the best, the highest paid, and the most famous, Scholes is quickly to denounce.
“I can't say I can't wait to finish my career, but I'm looking forward to finishing and everything that goes with it,” he said. “The only thing I will definitely miss is the football."
After his spectacular 30-yard rocket against Barcelona, you'd have thought he'd at least stay on for the celebrations that United were advancing to their first Champions League Final in nine years. But this was not the case. Reporters were promptly disappointed that Scholes had eluded them once again. In a rare interview in the days that followed, he modestly concluded his goal was merely "a moment" in the match, though most would have admitted it meant much more. Having missed the Final in '99 due to suspension, how couldn't it?
I'll also go as far as to assume that not many, if any, could picture Scholesy in another jersey other than Manchester United's. He'd probably go as far as saying he was never offered the opportunity to join another club anyway, when odds are teams would have no chance of prying him away. Either that or he was really hush about all of them.
Paul Scholes is the epitome of a generation of footballer seemingly long gone. Diligent and hardworking, meek yet steadfast, humble and modest to the end.
"He scores goals galore,
he scores goals!
He scores goals galore,
he scores goals...
He's scores goals galore,
he scores goals!
Paul Scholes, he scores goals..."
