2 weeks Ago By Pratyasha Sarkar
Legendary coach Jose Mourinho claimed Lionel Messi was not coachable after working with his archrival Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. The Fenerbahce boss coached the Portuguese legend between 2010 and 2013 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have often been pitted against each other by football fans and pundits since their debut two decades ago.
The duo dominated football for the last 20 years, winning a combined 13 Ballons d'Or (Messi won eight and Ronaldo five). Over the years, followers of the sport have chosen one over the other as the better footballer. To the surprise of many, Jose Mourinho also picked Lionel Messi as the greatest of his generation over Cristiano Ronaldo, despite having coached the latter.
In an interview with TNT Sports last year, the tactician was asked to name one player he wished he had signed. Mourinho said (via Forbes ): Under Jose Mourinho 's guidance, Ronaldo recorded 168 goals and 49 assists in 164 appearances across competitions. The duo together won one LaLiga title, a Copa del Rey, and a Supercopa de España trophy.
The Portuguese coach has never worked with Lionel Messi. In a 2019 conversation on On the Touchline with Jose Mourinho , the Portuguese tactician shared his two cents on the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate. He believed the two legends are both lucky and unlucky to be in the same generation and explained (via SPORTBible ): He added: At 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down.
The Portuguese legend currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and is on a mission to touch 1000 career goals for club and country. He has scored 32 times in 36 outings for the Knights of Najd across competitions this season. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi plies his trade with MLS side Inter Miami.
The Argentine legend will look to lead the side to the MLS Cup this year, after winning the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters' Shield with them since joining. Pratyasha Sarkar Pratyasha is a Pop Culture and a European Football writer for Sportskeeda. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and has over 3 years of experience in the pop culture industry.
Throughout her career, Pratyasha has always emphasized detailed background checks, and believes in verifying all information regardless of how correct it may seem. Pratyasha is an ardent admirer of Lionel Messi and has followed his journey since she was a kid; he inspires her with his hard work and dedication. She has grown up watching, living, and breathing Satyajit Ray's cinema, which she believes is timeless.
She loves Taylor Swift’s music and thinks she's a lyrical genius, and also admires Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. When Pratyasha's off the clock, she enjoys reading books and listening to music. During the football season, she is usually busy watching football matches late at night when Barcelona are playing.
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