Jose Mourinho has appeared to weigh in on the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate.
The new Fenerbahce manager has answered a series of quickfire questions in newly-released footage from TNT Sports, filmed at Wembley, where the 61-year-old, a little under two weeks ago worked a pundit for the Champions League final.
He was speaking before flying off to Turkey to officially be announced as Fenerbahce manager, where he has taken over since leaving his role at Roma last season.
In his career, he has coached the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as some of the best players in the world, including Ronaldo.
One of the questions presented to 'the special one' was one player he wishes he had signed in his career, and, after naming Messi, inadvertently gave his verdict on whether he feels he is better than Ronaldo.
'Of course I would say the little guy,' Mourinho responded. 'But the little guy was not coachable.
'But I have to say, in our generation, he was the best.'
Mourinho worked with Ronaldo between 2010 and 2013 at Madrid, coaching his fellow Portuguese star and winning one LaLiga title.
He has never worked with Messi, but nonetheless picked out the former Barcelona man as the best player of recent times.
Elsewhere in the questions, Mourinho picked out the San Siro as the best stadium in the world, described himself as 'funny, honest and forever young', and said that he cooks 'an amazing scrambled eggs'.
When asked who the best player he has worked with was, he replied: 'You know, it is very hard to say, to speak about Terry, Lampard, Drogba, Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Man United, all the Inter guys, I don't know.'
Towards the end of the questioned, meanwhile, he revealed the team who he feels has the best fans in the world.
'Old Trafford is Old Trafford, Bernabeu is Bernabeu, San Siro is San Siro, Stamford Bridge is Stamford Bridge, he said. 'But I would say for a team not used to winning, Roma fans are so so loyal to the team.'
Mourinho was sacked as Roma boss in January after three years in charge, and referenced the 2023 Conference League win as his favourite trophy of his career.
Elsewhere, he said Jesse Owens is the greatest sportsperson of all time and revealed his favourite sports outside of football are tennis and Formula One.
In a separate clip, Mourinho gave his verdict on who he feels will win Euro 2024 next month, and also addressed England's chances.
While he backed his native Portugal to beat the Three Lions in the final, he picked out Harry Kane as the Golden Boot winner and Jude Bellingham as the player of the tournament.
He also backed Vinicius Jnr to win the Ballon d'Or in October on the back of Real Madrid's successful year in Spain.
wosbcdioyz
785
Leo Messi is the best ever
hidblmopt
725
even the so call Ronaldo fans knows very well that Messi is far far ahead of their Ronaldo but they can't say it
S100K
558
I am a Ronaldo fan but if the SPECIAL ONE spoke, who am I to argue. He knows the football in and out more than I do. It's hard to take but I've to swallow my pride and accept the fact.
Wiseman5000
517
soon Ronaldo fan Boys will say the special knows nothing about football. jose never coached messi , they are not from the same country yet he said messi is a better player than Ronaldo. sometimes you just have to be tell the truth
Harshit1
503
Truth is : Great Managers, Great Players , Great Brains... All know Messi is The Greatest of all time. Yet we have some IQless people trying to prove Cr7 is better just because he scored 50+ in Saudi league.
Immaculate003
429
I am a Ronaldo fan but it's glaring Messi is the greatest. All great coaches and players admits it over and over again by picking Messi most times
Smclems
412
the special one has spoken
joacknsu
355
this man will always be my Man, how I wished he will coach Barcelona one day,very loyal and truthful
ANK3430
282
When the special one says a rival is the best, he is the best.
Viburnum
276
A Portugese who has coached ronaldo but still chose Messi. Truth is truth.
nazklruy
249
Messi only the greatest dribbler and passer. no doubt but not greatest player. He can't head the ball shoot with right weak foot. he doesn't know skills bicycle kick so on. It's doesn't mean he is not a great player. But u can see all those things in Ronaldo even dribbling and passing including. that's why membape vini garnacho rodrygo so many young super stars idol is Cristiano Ronaldo. its fate no one can erase. if messi born in another South America country he may be work somewhere not footballer. But Ronaldo is the pride of Portugal. But messi 10+1 in Argentina. Maradona is pride of Argentina
oh cry cry baby 😭 u don't know what to say again next look for the best and support ok so that u wouldn't be crying 😭😂
putimopruy
211
Pls come around let reason together. The truth is, if you want to know who is better just check Cr5 VS Messi in 9yrs at Laliga. Even if you ask Madrid they will tell you Messi is far ahead because Cr5 was sacked by Madrid just because he couldn't deliver Madrid from Messi domination and supremacy in his 9yrs. Cr5 led Madrid to win only 2 laliga in 9yrs while Messi led Barcelona to win 6 times in the same period which was the very reasons cr5 was let go, don't forget that in 2018 that cr5 left Madrid just won ucl. Both Messi and cr5 played against each other about 30 times in cr5 9yrs. Cr5 only 8 times while Messi won 14 times both played 8 draw. Cr5 scored 18 goals against Messi and Messi scored 21 goals including hatrick at Bernabeu. In cr5 9yrs in laliga, he only won 2 laliga highest goal scorer in 9yrs while Messi won it 6 times, so Messi completely dominated,overshadowed, decimated, annihilated, submerged, destroyed, subdued and conquered cr5 who came from epl to Madrid as world best player and Balloondor winner in 2009 and was the reason Cr5 ran away from laliga to break himself from Messi supremacy.
Banda55
103
Useless debate. There is nothing like the best player in the world. Messi had Xavi, Iniesta, the two world best players in Barcelona. Messi is playing in MLS and he still has Basquet, Suarez, Alba playing against college boys. Many people forget that when Barca was their very best, the only player that was challenging them was Ronaldo. So anyone can choose anyone they like.
U haven't said anything,so Xavi and Iniesta was the one scoring the goals right? they were the ones using Messi leg to dribble and create chances abi Tell me in the History of soccer who has created more goals and assist than Messi U guys just talk shit without any football knowledge
Shimantofloyd10
81
at the age of 36 messi is playing in MLS. at the age of 36 ronaldo was top scorer in seria A . why is there even a debate?
at the age of 35 Messi won world cup, World cup best player at the age of 38 Ronaldo still 0 world cup, 0 world cup knockout stage goal 0 best player in world cup🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
teddywalker
22
From Mourinho to Guardiola to klopp to ancelotti to zidane to Arsene Wenger to Luiz Enrique to Fabio capello and other great coaches who study football, coach football and spend a life time of experience in the game rate Messi above Ronaldo and wish he had played for them in their respective teams. Then an ordinary road sider will come online argue with you and insult your generation because of a penalty merchant who only cares about himself and his goals. Very weird and disrespectful set of fanbase!
omolayoka
8
The whole world knows Messi is bigger than all the players in the world past and present, Ronaldo is a great goal scorer, Messi is d greatest player of all time, know this and know peace