What Jose Mourinho Said About 'Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo' Debate In 2012

While Jose Mourinho was Real Madrid manager in 2012, he made a compelling argument when giving his thoughts about the famous and eternal "Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo" debate. Here is what he said!

Nine years ago, the Portuguese tactician was the man barking instructions at Ronaldo, after being appointed boss of Los Blancos in 2010. Mourinho would go on to stay at the club until 2013, a three-year period during which his compatriot scored 168 goals in 164 games.

Despite Ronaldo enjoying a fantastic 2011/12 season, Messi ultimately claimed the 2012 Ballon d'Or prize, but in the weeks leading up to the ceremony, Mourinho made a strong case for his then-player to win the illustrious individual award.

The Portuguese tactician based his stance on Messi having grown up in the FC Barcelona academy and therefore being more comfortable in their system than Ronaldo was at Real, considering he had joined Los Blancos when the club was not at its best.

"It would be a crime for Cristiano to not win the Ballon d'Or. And I keep saying it's harder to be Cristiano than Lionel Messi," he told A Bola in 2012.

"I'll tell you: Messi grew up in the team he plays for now; with the teammates he plays with now.

"Cristiano came from England to a team that was losing. He had to grow up in the past two years with this team in construction.

"One plays centre forward and the other is a winger. Messi is about 50 metres closer to the goal and has less defensive work. How can a winger score the same amount of goals as a centre forward does?

"This is a winger that defends, a winger that ends the game in the 94th minute with a sprint to chase Pedro in a goalscoring position. This is a player that, in dead-ball situations, comes 20 times to the defensive area.

"He is very important to the defensive set-up. He is a player that isn't protected by nothing or nobody. It's much, much harder."

Ronaldo scored 63 goals in 71 games for club and country in 2012, while Messi famously broke the calendar year world record with his 91 strikes in 69 appearances for Barca and Argentina.

Sir Alex Ferguson: "Lionel Messi is a Barcelona player. But Cristiano Ronaldo could play for Stockport County and score a hat-trick. He has everything." (Sports Illustrated)

Fabio Capello: "The difference is enormous, since a genius does what nobody imagines. Ronaldo is an extraordinary footballer, but Messi is a genius." (Calciomercato)

Diego Simeone: "With Messi, surrounded by great players, Messi is better than Ronaldo." (Onefootball)

Jurgen Klopp: "I have only one selfie on my smartphone. That’s with Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo was in the room as well." (LFCTV)

Zinedine Zidane: "There are no words to describe him. (Ronaldo) is much better than me even though I had a great career. He's the greatest of all time." (GiveMeSport)

Pep Guardiola: "Messi is the best, he is definitely the best." (ESPN)

Joachim Low: "Ronaldo is a very good professional, an incredible goalscoring machine for many years, but Messi is the most complete player I have seen." (Bild)

Arsene Wenger: "Ronaldo is more a finisher, better in the air, more athletic, and Messi is the more artistic." (beIN Sports)

Vicente Del Bosque: "Cristiano has extraordinary courage, with physical and technical conditions as a great scorer, but I'm staying with Messi." (Mundo Deportivo)

Jose Mourinho: "I think it’s unfair to both of them when somebody says this one is better than the other one. I think they are just different." (GiveMeSport)

Related tags