Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Friday that his Portuguese striker Ronaldo should have won this year’s Ballon d’Or and not Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
“For me, the best player of a season must be one that won,” Mourinho told ESPN.
“What (Ronaldo) did helped the team to win something big and I don’t think in the history of the Ballon D’Or, one player won it without winning a big thing.
“So I don’t think Messi without winning the Champions League, without winning the Spanish League, how can he be the Ballon D’Or?”
Messi was La Liga’s top scorer with 50 goals last season, four more than Ronaldo, and capped his season by winning a third Ballon d’Or title.
But Barcelona finished second behind Real Madrid who set records for most La Liga wins in a season with 32, most goals scored (121) and best goal difference (plus-89) en route to a first league title in four years.
Meanwhile, despite reports of a deal for Luka Modric, no new signings have been announced but Mourinho remained confident for the new season.
“The team is really full of talent and we have lots of solutions and we can play in different ways, in different systems, in different philosophies,” he said.
“So, what I have in my hands in terms of human capital, human resources is very, very hard.”
Real Madrid and Barcelona will play in the Spanish SuperCup on August 23 and 29, with the first of two La Liga clashes set for October 7.
And Mourinho estimated that the Spanish league is the strongest in the world.
“What I used to say is that every team in the world goes to the Spanish league, they finish third,” Mourinho said.
“Man City goes there, Manchester United goes there, Chelsea goes there. Who else? They finish third because the two best teams in the world are in the same league, so of course to the others, it’s a big difference.”
Chris Dilema
Guest
I think and im 100% sure that Lionel deserves the ballon d'or... When u look at how he was able to show off his skills during the championsleague and la liga though he couldn't win the both, he really is worthy of that! So he has won it, and thats worth!
stephen annancy
Guest
Ronaldo deserve it, with spanish league and super cup for ronaldo, what then can we take from him, messi has only 1 trophy which is not even all that to tallk about(the kings cup) for me this season is between ronaldo and iniesta not messi.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Well he would, wouldnt he ?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Hats off to Jose. He has managed to stir some controversy on an event that occurred all the way back in January and thus has managed to get himself and Real Madrid into the media spotlight in the middle of the Olympics and therefore generated some media momentum into the run up to the season. He certainly knows how to play the media.
Wiggo
Roar Rookie
Messi has it for me, not only did he score more goals on average but he had a lot more assists. Ronaldo is clearly better with the dead ball and is a better header of the ball but Messi definately is more skillful and more of a team player. And most importantly for me he stays on his feet more thru tackles, Ronaldo will go down at the slightest touch and roll around feigning agony in an effort to get an undeserved penalty or have someone booked or sent off, when Messi goes down he's normally been fouled and if he stays down he's hurt. I love Mourinho he wears his heart on his sleeve and says what he thinks & if you upset he'll poke you right in the eye but just because you're playing for the best team that year it does'nt necessarily make you the best player.
Russel
Guest
Siyanda. I watched that interview and Joe has his point its fair and he's entitled to it. I prefer to watch Leo just over Cr7 but Mou makes a solid case with he's points. Sometimes I think Mou's crazy but fair point to him here.
Siyanda
Guest
I don't think what Mourinho said was right.There is no player in the world who can match up with Leo Messi.He showed that by scoring 73 goals in all competions.That guy is the best in world football at the moment.The guy is a record breaker and no one can take that away from him.At 24yrs he is a legend