Messi Made Me Grow The Most – Mourinho

Fenerbahce manager, José Mourinho, has named Lionel Messi as the footballer who challenged and influenced his managerial career more than any other player.

Messi, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, made his senior debut for Barcelona in a friendly match against Mourinho’s Porto in November 2003. Since then, the Argentine icon and the Portuguese tactician have crossed paths on multiple occasions, creating some of football’s most memorable rivalries.

During his time at Chelsea, Inter Milan, and especially Real Madrid, Mourinho often came face-to-face with Messi’s brilliance in both domestic and European competitions. These encounters included the fiery El Clásico battles between Barcelona and Real Madrid, where Mourinho’s tactical setups were constantly tested by Messi’s genius.

Speaking in an interview with Sporty Net, Mourinho admitted that Messi’s influence on him was profound.
“Messi, because every time I played against him he forced me to think a lot,” the former Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Inter boss said when asked to name the player who had made him grow the most in his career.

Mourinho’s acknowledgment underscores the impact Messi has had not only on fans and teammates but also on some of football’s greatest managers, shaping tactics and strategies over the years.