Neither Ronaldo nor Messi: Mourinho picks THIS Brazilian star as football's best ever

Despite the never-ending debate surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi regarding who's the greatest of all time (GOAT), legendary manager Jose Mourinho has a rather different opinion as he believes that neither of the strikers is best to grace the football pitch.

Apart from the Al Nassr and Inter Miami star, the GOAT debate also includes former players such as Diego Maradona, Pele, and others. However, Mourinho does not categorise either of these two legends as the best ever.

Surprisingly, the AS Roma boss considers former Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario as the best-ever player to play the game, reported mirror.co.uk.

Ronaldo, also known as "R9," was a worldwide sensation long before Messi and Ronaldo emerged on the football scene.

The Brazilian had an incredible career playing for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, winning the World Cup twice and taking home two Ballon d'Or trophies.

Unlike Messi and R7, who have maintained their fitness and health throughout their career, Nazario's football career was marred by frequent serious knee problems — something Mourinho witnessed during his time with Barcelona.

It appears that Nazario left an impression on Mourinho, the Portuguese coach who was an interpreter at Camp Nou under the legendary boss Bobby Robson.

Speaking to LiveScore, Mourinho said: "If we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo [Nazario]. When he was at Barcelona [...] I realised that he was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field."