'If we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo': Jose Mourinho ranks Brazil legend above Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the best he has ever seen
- Jose Mourinho worked with Brazil's Ronaldo at Barcelona in the 96-97 season
- He managed fellow Portuguese Ronaldo during his three-year Real Madrid reign
- The 'Special One' named the former Brazil striker as the best he has worked with
On his way to mastering the defence-minded tactics needed to stop the world's finest strikers, Jose Mourinho has worked with and encountered many of the greats since beginning his coaching career under Bobby Robson in 1992.
Now the provocative 'Special One', who was dismissed as Manchester United manager ten months ago amid criticism of his conservative style, has named one of the earliest talents he nurtured as the finest player he has worked with.
Mourinho saw the Brazilian Ronaldo every day in training as the man who would be dubbed El Fenomeno, then barely 20, scored 47 times in 49 appearances in his breakthrough season for an elite European club.
![Ronaldo rapidly became the most feared striker in the world during a dazzling season in Spain](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/14/19625418-7565757-image-a-1_1570886222693.jpg)
Ronaldo rapidly became the most feared striker in the world during a dazzling season in Spain
![Mourinho, Robson and Ronaldo finished second in La Liga but won the 1997 Cup Winners' Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/16/19629602-7565757-Mourinho_Robson_and_Ronaldo_finished_second_in_La_Liga_but_won_t-a-39_1570894421248.jpg)
Mourinho, Robson and Ronaldo finished second in La Liga but won the 1997 Cup Winners' Cup
![The Brazil legend eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by winning the World Cup twice](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/14/19625420-7565757-image-a-2_1570886250263.jpg)
The Brazil legend eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by winning the World Cup twice
'When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realised that he was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field,' said Mourinho, who told LiveScore he remains confounded by a goal the Brazilian scored for Barca against PSG in Rotterdam in 1997, calling it 'awesome'.'
'Injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible.
'Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers. They have remained at the top every day for 15 years.
![Ronaldo got both goals in the 2002 World Cup final](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/14/19625428-0-image-a-11_1570886686036.jpg)
![Cristiano Ronaldo has won five Champions Leagues](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/14/19625514-7565757-image-a-10_1570886686031.jpg)
Ronaldo scored both goals in the 2002 World Cup final but never lifted the Champions League
![Messi has four Champions League titles, although CR7 is the competition's all-time top scorer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/14/19625542-7565757-image-a-6_1570886543186.jpg)
Messi has four Champions League titles, although CR7 is the competition's all-time top scorer
'However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo.'
The prodigy moved to Inter Milan, who Mourinho would later manage after Ronaldo had left, the following season, but the memories of watching Brazil's second-highest all-time goalscorer still leave his former coach starstruck.
Mourinho has watched at close quarters as the two great strikers of the current era, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have terrorised defences with a longevity his former charge was denied.
![Ronaldo had a prolific stay at Real Madrid between 2002 and 2007 but retired four years later](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/14/19625422-7565757-Ronaldo_had_a_prolific_stay_at_Real_Madrid_between_2002_and_2007-m-13_1570887376478.jpg)
Ronaldo had a prolific stay at Real Madrid between 2002 and 2007 but retired four years later
![The Portugal captain won the inaugural Nations League but is still chasing a World Cup victory](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/14/19625502-7565757-image-a-8_1570886585867.jpg)
The Portugal captain won the inaugural Nations League but is still chasing a World Cup victory
![Messi and Ronaldo's careers have not been blighted by the injury problems the Brazilian faced](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/14/19625536-7565757-Messi_and_Ronaldo_s_careers_have_not_been_blighted_by_the_injury-m-12_1570887364875.jpg)
Messi and Ronaldo's careers have not been blighted by the injury problems the Brazilian faced
![Mourinho has been in demand for his opinions since departing Man United in December 2018](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/12/16/19629196-7565757-image-a-37_1570893086280.jpg)
Mourinho has been in demand for his opinions since departing Man United in December 2018
Plagued by knee injuries, including a rupture that forced him to miss almost three seasons after moving to Inter, Ronaldo played fewer than 450 games in his career, but still won the World Cup twice with Brazil, in 1994 and 2002.
His club career came nowhere near the incredible consistency of CR7 and Messi, who have won the Champions League 11 times between them and become by far the leading all-time scorers in the competition.
The closest Ronaldo came to winning the exalted trophy was a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup win in 1997 and UEFA Cup glory with Inter in 1998.
Neither Messi nor Ronaldo have lifted the World Cup, although the Juventus forward won EURO 2016 and this year's inaugural Nations League with Portugal.
Mourinho, whose relationship with fellow Portuguese Ronaldo was questioned during their time together at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, led Inter to a 3-2 Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona and Messi in 2010.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/08/02/636x90_facebook_ad_sport.png)
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