“I can’t say Cristiano is the best player” — Felipe Scolari

Luiz Felipe Scolari, the veteran manager with an illustrious career spanning over four decades, has disclosed that Cristiano Ronaldo is not the best player he has ever coached.

Despite acknowledging Ronaldo’s immense talent and contributions to the Portuguese national team, Scolari highlighted the extraordinary caliber of numerous other players he has managed.

The 75-year-old Brazilian coach, who has had 31 managerial stints with 22 different teams since 1982, boasts a decorated career with 31 trophies won at clubs such as Brazil, Portugal, Chelsea, and Palmeiras.

Over the years, Scolari has worked with football legends including Ronaldo Nazario, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, and Salomon Kalou.

Reflecting on his tenure as the head coach of Portugal from 2004 to 2008, Scolari emphasized Ronaldo’s significant impact but refrained from naming him as the best player he has ever coached.

“When I coached him in the national team, it was clear that he had a lot of quality. We were very successful in our project and he was an important player in that,” Scolari told Arabic outlet winwin, via A Bola.

However, he added, “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.”

Scolari’s remarks underscore the remarkable talent pool he has had the privilege to manage, reflecting the diverse and high-level experiences throughout his extensive career.