Luiz Felipe Scolari, renowned for his coaching achievements with teams like Brazil, Portugal, Chelsea, and Palmeiras, surprisingly ranked Cristiano Ronaldo below other players he’s coached in terms of overall greatness. Despite Ronaldo’s impressive career and numerous accolades, Scolari expressed that there were other players he considers to be the best he has coached.
During his tenure as the coach of Portugal from 2004 to 2008, Scolari acknowledged Ronaldo’s exceptional qualities and noted his significant contributions to the national team’s success during that period. However, in an interview with Arabic outlet Winwin, via A Bola, Scolari stated, “I can’t say that Cristiano is the best player I’ve ever coached because I worked with many special players who still play today.”
This perspective from Scolari is intriguing given Ronaldo’s status as one of the most decorated footballers in history, having won numerous domestic league titles, five Champions League titles, and multiple Ballon d’Or awards during his illustrious career.
In the context of EURO 2024, Ronaldo, now playing for Al Nassr after his stint at Manchester United, had a quiet performance in Portugal’s match against Czech Republic, where he did not manage to score despite his team’s comeback victory.
Scolari’s statement underscores the subjective nature of evaluating players’ greatness, influenced by personal coaching experiences and the multitude of talented individuals he has worked with throughout his esteemed career.