Editing Nicky Butt (section)

==International career==
Having been capped five times at under-21 level, he won his first England [[Cap (sport)#Association football|cap]] during the [[1996–97 in English football|1996–97]] season against Mexico and became a squad regular, providing reliable backup for the central midfield positions. An injury to first choice midfielder [[Steven Gerrard]] before the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] gave Butt his chance in the starting line-up alongside Manchester United teammates [[David Beckham]] and [[Paul Scholes]]. Ahead of England's quarter-final game against [[Brazil National Football Team|Brazil]], he was named "the best player of the England squad" by Brazilian legend [[Pelé]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/38088000/rm/_38088560_pele18_myrie_vi.ram "Brazilian legend Pele tells the BBC's Clive Myrie that the man Brazil most fears is Nicky Butt"] (video clip), BBC Sport, 20 June 2002, retrieved 2 December 2006</ref> a compliment to his performance in the unattractive holding role. England eventually exited the World Cup after a 2–1 defeat to Brazil.

After the World Cup he returned to his role as a squad player, providing experienced cover for the first-choice midfield pairing of [[Steven Gerrard]] and [[Frank Lampard]]. He was selected for [[UEFA Euro 2004]], but missed the tournament through injury. His last international appearance was in a friendly against [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] on 17 November 2004. In total he appeared 39 times for England.