Jose Mourinho is undoubtedly one of the greatest football managers ever.
The man born in Setubal put his name up in lights across the football world back in 2004 after remarkably guiding FC Porto to UEFA Champions League glory – an achievement which saw Chelsea almost immediately offer him the chance to manage at Stamford Bridge.
Having since conquered football – even being named IFFHS World’s Best Coach of the 21st Century in 2020 – the Portuguese tactician’s opinion on footballing matters holds plenty of weight.
Specifically – having worked with so many superstars over the years, such as Cristiano Ronaldo – Jose Mourinho knows talent when he sees it, but actually opted to ignore his fellow countryman when selecting his three greatest footballers ever.
Who Jose Mourinho chose as the three best footballers in history
When asked to pick the best three of all time, the 62-year-old told The Sun back in 2016: “For me the top three players in history are (Lionel) Messi, Pele and (Diego) Maradona.”
Despite Ronaldo scoring 168 goals in just 164 games under Mourinho at Real Madrid – more than he netted for any other manager – the holder of five Ballon d’Or trophies was overlooked.
However, you simply cannot argue with the three names Mourinho – who chose Mario Balotelli as his most problematic player – did select.
Messi boasts eight Ballon d’Or successes to his name – more than any other player in history – while Pele and Maradona need no introduction.
2013 comments prove Jose Mourinho changed his mind over Cristiano Ronaldo
In 2013 – just three years prior to Mourinho putting Messi, Maradona and Pele on pedestals – the man currently in charge of Fenerbahce boldly named Ronaldo, who could leave Saudi Arabia soon, as “probably” the outright best to ever play the game, suggesting he changed his mind within three years.
After the Portugal international won the Ballon d’Or in Mourinho’s final season at Real Madrid, the universally respected coach said: “He (Ronaldo) is the best. The best in the world, yes. Probably the best ever.
“I saw Maradona a couple of times. I never saw Pele, but Cristiano is amazing. This man is the best.”
7⃣ 2011: @Cristiano, Özil, Kaká & Benzema combine for a stunning Bernabéu goal 👏@realmadriden | #UCL pic.twitter.com/HCTh726pwA
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 22, 2021
The pair are known to have clashed on several occasions while together at Real Madrid, with Mourinho saying after he had departed the Santiago Bernabeu: “I had only one problem with him, very simple, very basic, which was when a coach criticises a player from a tactical viewpoint trying to improve what, in my view, could have been improved.
“At that moment, he didn’t take it very well because maybe he thinks he knows everything and the coach cannot help him develop further.”
Therefore, perhaps this strained relationship led Mourinho to change his mind in 2016 – when asked to name his three greatest footballers.
