CR7 Likes Mourinho's Decade-Old Post Comparing Him to Messi

Certain statements remain relevant regardless of how much time passes. A 2012 video featuring José Mourinho championing Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi has gone viral once more on social media. What sparked the renewed interest? Ronaldo himself hit the 'like' button.

The footage originates from a 2012 interview Mourinho conducted with Portuguese publication A Bola. During that period, the Portuguese manager was at the helm of Real Madrid with Ronaldo as his star player. His intimate knowledge of both superstars came from managing one while competing against Messi's Barcelona on numerous occasions.

The historical backdrop is crucial. In 2012, Ronaldo tallied 58 goals throughout the calendar year—a remarkable achievement by any measure. However, Messi shattered records with an astronomical 91 goals (79 for Barcelona, 12 for Argentina). The Argentine claimed the Ballon d'Or that year, a result that shocked nobody.

Mourinho's Original Argument

Prior to the awards gala, Mourinho publicly defended his player. His reasoning? Ronaldo deserved greater recognition due to the distinct obstacles he overcame compared to Messi.

"I maintain it's more difficult to be Cristiano than Messi," Mourinho declared. "Messi developed within the team he represents, alongside the teammates he plays with. Cristiano arrived in England at a giant club experiencing turmoil, fresh off losses."

The Portuguese tactician expanded his position further. He highlighted that Messi operated as a number 9 in compact spaces with reduced defensive responsibilities. Conversely, Ronaldo functioned as a winger who defended, sprinted back in the 94th minute, and protected his zone during dead-ball situations.

"How can a wide player score identical numbers to a striker?" Mourinho questioned. He additionally suggested Messi received preferential treatment from match officials. "It is significantly, significantly tougher to be Cristiano, let's be serious," the manager emphasized.

The Resurgence Explained

The footage gained renewed traction when @cr7historical posted it again. Supporters immediately spotted Ronaldo's 'like' on the content. That simple digital acknowledgment proved sufficient to reignite the perpetual GOAT debate amongst football enthusiasts globally.

Some supporters noted that Mourinho's perspective shifted over time. By 2019, he referred to Messi as "the God of football." Nevertheless, that hasn't prevented the discussion from erupting once more.

For bettors and supporters tracking both icons, this serves as a reminder of how every action they take continues generating attention. Both athletes are approaching the final chapters of their careers, yet their impact on football discourse remains enormous. Whether you support Team Messi or Team Ronaldo, the debate obviously isn't concluding anytime soon.

The reality? We'll likely never achieve universal agreement on who's the greatest. However, there's absolutely no question that both Messi and Ronaldo deserve their places in that discussion. Their rivalry elevated each other to extraordinary levels and provided us with years of memorable football magic.