Jose Mourinho has praised Miroslav Klose for his World Cup record but says Ronaldo is still the best striker of the past 20 years.
Klose’s close-range finish in Germany’s 7-1 humiliation of Brazil put him clear on 16 career World Cup goals, one more than the local favourite.
However, Mourinho says that the Brazilian Ronaldo is still the best forward to have operated since Diego Maradona’s retirement, even if Klose’s name now sits above his in the record books.
“I like him a lot and I respect his career a lot, and I respect the numbers because the numbers are absolutely amazing,” said Yahoo’s Global Football Ambassador of the Germany striker.
“The fact that he is 36 years old and he played and scored against Brazil in a World cup semi-final … full respect. Chapeau.
“But the reality is that he is a player I can see after Maradona, and when Maradona stopped his career, in the next generation I think Ronaldo was the best player.
“In the last few decades, I think Ronaldo Nazario was the best. He lost the record but what he doesn’t lose is my opinion and the opinion of so many people that he was the best in the last 20 years.
“But for Miroslav to beat Ronaldo’s record is really amazing.”
