What Jose Mourinho said about Cristiano Ronaldo after winning the Golden Ball at Man Utd

Jose Mourinho did not believe that Cristiano Ronaldo was the best footballer in the world when he won the 2008 Golden Ball.

Ronaldo had just won the Premier League with Manchester United and was enjoying the success of the Champions League for the first time in his career.

He received his very first Gold Ball – a trophy he would win four more times – to end a remarkable season with the Red Devils.

And while Mourinho was delighted with the striker and thought he probably deserved this honor considering his success with United, the Portuguese did not think his compatriot was the best player in the world at the time.

"Ronaldo is a good player but he's certainly not the best," said Mourinho in 2008.

"He deserved the Golden Ball because his team won the Champions League and the Premier League, but for me, Ibrahimovic is the best."

Mourinho was then director of Inter Milan and ran Ibrahimovic, which probably explains his preference for the Swedish international retired.

Ibrahimovic has never won the Golden Ball nor been successful in the Champions League.

Mourinho was going to win the Champions League with Inter in 2009, but frustrated for the Swede, he left for Barcelona.