Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has rated Cristiano Ronaldo the “best ever” player in the world ahead of Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
Debate has regularly surrounded Ronaldo and Barcelona rival Lionel Messi as the current world’s best, but Mourinho went further, stating Ronaldo was the best ever.
“He is the best. The best in the world, yes. Probably the best ever,” Mourinho said.
“I saw Maradona a couple of times. I never saw Pele. But Cristiano is amazing. This man is the best.”
Mourinho made the comments ahead of Real’s return leg against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League last 16. The first leg in Madrid ended 1-1, leaving Real with plenty of work to do.
However, ‘the Special One’ said: “If we are my team, we will win.”
He added: “Even (Ronaldo) can’t win it on his own. The key is the team and the team needs balance and people doing different tasks. At this level, if somebody fails, we have no chance.
“We never say Cristiano is responsible when we lose a match and we can’t think he is the only one who wins it. Without the team he is nothing but the team without him is not the same.”