Jose Mourinho has a different answer when it came to choosing the greatest of all time or the GOAT of soccer. Instead of the usual answers of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, the Portuguese manager feels that Ronaldo Nazario was the greatest player to step foot on a soccer pitch.
Cristiano and Messi have long been GOAT contenders ever since they made their debuts. For over a decade, the pair kept breaking every possible record and dominated soccer in a way no one else ever did. Scoring and assisting, winning trophy after trophy for both club and country, and 12 Ballon d’Ors combined between them. Many football fans are divided on which among them is the better one and therefore the ‘true GOAT’ of soccer.
However, Mourinho has always seen things differently than others, and when asked about who he thinks is the GOAT of soccer, he didn’t choose either.
He picked Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo Nazario with whom he had the pleasure of working with during his Barcelona days.
In the interview with LiveScore, the Roma manager explained his reasoning that he based his answer on pure talent rather than achievements or longevity,
“Ronaldo, El Fenomeno. Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers, and they have remained at the top every day for 15 years. However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo [Nazario].”
“When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realized that he was the best player I’d ever seen take to the field. Injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible.”
🗣 Mourinho on the best ever footballer: “Ronaldo, El Fenomeno, Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers, they have remained at the top every day for 15 years.
— GOAL (@goal) October 13, 2019
“However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo [Nazario]." 🐐 pic.twitter.com/fR3Qf5Vtub
Ronaldo was at Barcelona for only one season in 1996-97 but scored a sensational 47 goals in 49 games, winning three trophies in the process. He was bought for £13.2 million which at that time was the highest transfer fee for a player. But he was sold for £19.5 million to Inter Milan the very next season. He was plagued by injuries during his time there.
He led Brazil to their fifth World Cup victory in 2002 scoring eight goals including two in the final. He then became a ‘Galactico’ at Real Madrid where he had a good few years before falling to injury issues again. After a poor spell at AC Milan, he returned home to Brazilian giant Corinthians where he eventually finished his soccer career.
With 414 goals, 2 Balon d’Or, and 11 major titles to his name, Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest to grace the game. Many among which Mourinho belongs, think Ronaldo’s injuries have prevented him from reaching his true potential.
Cristiano and Messi are still balling in their late years and hungry for more achievements. The Argentine is a recent World Cup winner, being the best player there, and scored his 16th goal for PSG yesterday. Cristiano is not at the top anymore, joining Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, but he assisted beautifully two times after scoring a sensational poker previously.
