JOSE MOURINHO IS baffled at how well-loved the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are, considering they “don’t save lives”.
The Chelsea boss is one of the most recognisable faces in football, but the global idolisation of the Real Madrid and Barcelona stars dwarf even his status.
And Mourinho has spoken out about the crazy adulation some players receive, questioning the sanity of those who are convinced that the sport is more important than anything else in life.
“I am passionate about football, of course,” the former Real Madrid boss told The Daily Telegraph. “But for us professionals, if it means everything then we are in trouble; and for supporters it is the same.
“In Portugal they say that you can change everything except your mum and your football club. I understand football’s power, socially, politically and culturally, but how can a football player be in the top 100 of the most influential people in the world in Forbes magazine?”
When it was pointed out to Mourinho that two footballers are in the top 100, Ronaldo (30th) and Messi (45th), he added: “It’s absurd! We don’t save lives!
“I know that people can jump from a fifth floor because their team lost a game, but that person has problems.
“How can you compare a football player, a football manager with a scientist, a doctor? You cannot compare.”
Mourinho worked with Ronaldo for three seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he clashed with Messi’s Barcelona on numerous occasions, before returning to Chelsea’s helm in 2013.
After a silverware-less first season back at Stamford Bridge, he lifted the League Cup earlier this year and his Blues have a comfortable seven-point lead in the Premier League with a game in hand.
Ronaldo donates a considerable amount to charity each year which he prefers not to be publicised. I’m betting some of that money has saved 1 or 2 lives
then how do you know about it if he doesn’t publicise it.
True yes it’s a very Portuguese way to go about things.Then you see lads like Drogba doing charity work and he wants the world to know.No problem with that whatsoever but the best way to go about charity is to do it discreetly,especially if you’re in the public eye,reiterates you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Ridiculous comment. Drogba is now a UN goodwill ambassador for his efforts to stop a civil war. He also has his own charity which he is obviously going to publicise AND he built a hospital. These are very influential people who shouldn’t hide their charity work.
What does that’s a very Portuguese way to go about things even mean. Just because you donate to charity doesn’t make you a charity worker.
Calm down there @lad I wasn’t criticising Drogba whatsoever I was just pointing out the comparison between him and discreet charity and there’s nothing wrong with either they’re both excellent.My grandparents are Portuguese and it’s a huge ethos in the culture to give to charity discreetly that’s what I meant with that comment so don’t take my head off please.
Rugby bores me to death but I don’t see the need to go and comment on it!
Apart from now
Sorry fran my comment wwscaimed at jammy below!!! How mine ended above his I don’t no
Well soccer bores me to death so I can see his point…
Following the story of Di Maria and Rodriguez this is insane .football is a way for people to express themselves ,and a way out of their situation .They will always be themselves if they’re lucky.Kids look up to Messi and Ronaldo because they put more time in soccer than education .for a man that made a living from doing the same thing to now put people off its rubbish.follow your passion .what else is there?
Sounds like jose has the blues. Lately..
Sounds like he is peeved off they get more attention than him. How dare they !