March 31, 2025 – Few managers have seen as much talent as Jose Mourinho, but when the legendary coach named the best player he’s ever witnessed on a pitch, it wasn’t who you might expect. The “Special One,” now at the helm of Fenerbahce, snubbed icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to crown Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario as his ultimate pick. Here’s why this choice still resonates with football fans in 2025.
A Talent Like No Other
Back in 2023, Mourinho sat down with LiveScore and didn’t hesitate. “The best football player I’ve ever seen on a pitch? Ronaldo Nazario,” he declared. Having worked with the Brazilian during his time as an assistant at Barcelona under Bobby Robson in 1996, Mourinho saw a 19-year-old phenom who dazzled with speed, skill, and sheer natural ability. “Injuries killed a career that could’ve been even more incredible, but the talent that guy had was something else,” he added. For Mourinho, it’s not about longevity—it’s about peak brilliance.
Why Not Ronaldo or Messi?
Sure, Mourinho coached Cristiano Ronaldo to a LaLiga title at Real Madrid, where CR7 scored a jaw-dropping 168 goals in 164 games under him. And yes, he’s faced off against Messi’s genius countless times. But the Portuguese tactician sees something different in “El Fenomeno.” While Cristiano and Messi ruled the game for over 15 years, Mourinho argues their sustained excellence doesn’t match the raw, untamed flair Ronaldo brought at his peak. “At 19, he was unstoppable,” he said, pointing to a level of natural gift that injuries later stole away.
The Barcelona Days That Stuck With Him
Mourinho’s front-row seat to Ronaldo’s 1996-97 season at Barcelona left a mark. Fresh from PSV, the Brazilian scored 47 goals in 49 games, terrorizing defenders with blistering pace and jaw-dropping moves. It was a campaign that won him the FIFA World Player of the Year award at just 20. Even now, as Mourinho reflects from Istanbul, he recalls that version of Ronaldo as a benchmark no one’s topped. “I realized then he was the best I’d ever see,” he told LiveScore—a memory that still holds in 2025.
A Manager’s Unique Perspective
With a career spanning Porto’s Champions League glory, Chelsea’s Premier League dominance, and Inter’s treble, Mourinho’s worked with legends like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Yet, his pick of Ronaldo Nazario speaks to a rare appreciation for pure talent over stats or trophies. As he leads Fenerbahce toward Turkish glory this season, his take reminds us why football’s golden moments—like Ronaldo’s prime—still captivate us decades later.