Jose Mourinho snubs Cristiano Ronaldo and names Lionel Messi, Pele and Diego Maradona as best three players in history
Portuguese manager omits his fellow countryman and former player in favour of Real Madrid superstar's arch-rival
JOSE MOURINHO has named his top three players of all time - and snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese boss, 53, omitted his fellow countryman in favour of Lionel Messi, Pele and Diego Maradona.
When asked to pick who were the best three of all time, he said: "For me the top three players in history are Messi, Pele and Maradona."
Mourinho spent three years working with Ronaldo at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and in his final season the winger won the Ballon d'Or.
The Manchester United manager claimed in 2013: "He [Ronaldo] is the best. The best in the world, yes. Probably the best ever.
"I saw Maradona a couple of times. I never saw Pele. But Cristiano is amazing. This man is the best."
Mourinho's son, Jose Jr, 16, retweeted a post referencing his dad's comments.
Ronaldo, 31, was named World Player of the Year again in 2014 but lost out to arch-rival Messi, 29, in 2015.
But the Special One's comments are likely to dampen Ron's Euro 2016 triumph.
The Portugal captain managed to win silverware with his country, something Messi - who retired from Argentina duty in June - has never done.
Ronaldo said Mourinho created a 'bad atmosphere' during his Bernabeu reign.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague revealed the pair 'almost came to blows' during a half-time team-talk.
In his book Cristiano Ronaldo: The Biography, he claimed the Madrid talisman reacted angrily to a half-time instruction to defend more.
He said: "The situation escalated to the point where Cristiano had to be held back (some sources say by Casillas, others say by Arbeloa and Khedira, or even Sergio Ramos) to prevent the pair from coming to blows.
"Ronaldo took what should have been understood as a tactical comment as a personal attack. The relationship between Mourinho and Ronaldo would never be the same again."
Mourinho also left out new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic from his three choices.
The Swede, 34, recently claimed he will be God of Manchester in response to United legend Eric Cantona's comments.