Former Premier League winger and England international Kieron Dyer settled the Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard debate by naming the player with the least ‘natural ability’.
Dyer, 46, played for several clubs including Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, and West Ham United.
The 46-year-old played alongside several top players during his 33 England caps, including Wayne Rooney, Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard, but who did he consider to be the best?
Speaking on talkSPORT in 2024, Dyer issued his thoughts on the classic midfield debate.
Kieron Dyer settled the Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard debate (Credit:Getty)
Dyer said: “Paul Scholes. No disrespect to Frank Lampard, but that’s not even a conversation.
“Frank has got the most assists in the Premier League and has scored more goals than him, but my answer to that is that Chelsea played a completely different formation to Manchester United and Liverpool at the time, if you throw Steven Gerrard into the mix.
“I love Frank Lampard because out of the three, including Steven Gerrard, he had nowhere near the same amount of natural ability and talent as them, so for him to have the career that he had.
“Every single time I saw him in training, he was doing extras – shooting and he was being labelled as ‘fat’ by West Ham fans and the amount of fast-feet stuff that he’d do – he was completely dedicated.
“Everything that he’s got – it’s a bit like Messi and Ronaldo when they say Messi has god-given talent and Ronaldo’s all hard work – that’s how I see Scholes and Gerrard and Lampard.”
Dyer was then asked to rank the three in order, to which he replied: “Scholes, Gerrard and then Lampard.”
England in 2003 (Credit:Getty)
The former Newcastle winger then spoke about David Beckham and explained how the former Real Madrid star was “definitely world-class”.
“Luis Figo was Ballon d’Or winner at the time – he had more than Becks because he could beat people, but with Becks’ delivery he didn’t need to beat people,” said Dyer.
“It was a touch, out of his feet and then whoosh – I’d see it in training, he can do anything he wants with a ball. He could put it anywhere.”
