Why Messi Won More Ballon d'Ors Than Ronaldo: When Mourinho Explained

• Jose Mourinho once made an interesting comment on the Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi rivalry
• The iconic manager stated the Argentine's 'kinder' persona gave him the edge over the Portuguese
• Ronaldo and Messi are often called the greatest of all time and have won a collective 12 Ballon d'Or

Iconic manager, Jose Mourinho once put forth a theory regarding why Lionel Messi might win more Ballon d'Or awards compared to his age-old nemesis, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The two veterans enjoyed an incredible rivalry at the pinnacle of global football, collectively securing an astonishing 12 Ballon d'Or awards between them from 2008 to 2017.

During this era, Ronaldo and Messi set and broke numerous records, engaging in an intense competition to outperform each other in all aspects of the game.

The Ballon d'Or count became one of the primary metrics for evaluating their greatness.

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Although Ronaldo was the first among the two to claim this prestigious award in 2008, Messi has since overtaken the Portuguese phenom, amassing seven Ballon d'Or titles compared to his rival's five.

Mourinho, now coaching at AS Roma in Italy, stated many years back that the Argentine's demeanour could have contributed to his advantage in the Ballon d'Or race.

"So, if Cristiano doesn't win the Ballon d'Or, it is because he isn't very kind, doesn't sell his image very well, doesn't give interviews apologising for strife with a teammate on the field," the 60-year-old said during his time as manager of Real Madrid, as translated by CristianoXtra.

Mourinho was not pleased with the possibility that his theory was correct, however:

"[The] Ballon d'Or should be given to the best ones. [The award] should be given to those who deserve them. It's a pity I cannot vote because I wouldn't think twice," he added.

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Ronaldo's stats under Mourinho in Madrid

Ronaldo accumulated goals, assists, and trophies at an astonishing rate during his time at Real Madrid, setting numerous records and solidifying his status as the club's greatest-ever player.

While the Portuguese veteran had a successful period under Manuel Pellegrini, it was under Mourinho when the current Al-Nassr star's already impressive statistics reached greater heights.

According to TransferMarkt, the 38-year-old scored a remarkable 168 goals and provided 49 assists in 164 games during his tenure at Real Madrid under the leadership of his compatriot.

It is worth mentioning that Ronaldo ended his Ballon d'Or drought of nearly five years under Mourinho when he secured the prestigious award in 2013, surpassing perceived frontrunner, Franck Ribery.

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Sports Brief also reported on former Ghanaian midfielder, Kevin-Prince Boateng admitting he lied about Messi being the best so he could wear the Barcelona jersey.

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The former AC Milan star had the opportunity to play alongside the esteemed Argentine veteran during his loan term with the Catalan titans during the 2018/19 season.

Boateng gained notoriety for proclaiming Messi as the best footballer he had ever played alongside after his initial training session with the reigning La Liga champions.