Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has said that Cristiano Ronaldo deserved to win the 2012 Ballon d'Or.
The award for the planet's best player was given to Lionel Messi, as the Barcelona forward became the first man ever to claim the accolade four times.
However, Mourinho thinks that Ronaldo's exploits last year, which included leading Portugal to a Euro 2012 semi-final and winning La Liga with Madrid, should have been enough to see him crowned the winner when the recipient was decided in January.
"Cristiano should have won the award to the best player in the world," Mourinho told RTP1.
"He was champion in La Liga, he was decisive in the league with all the records."
Ronaldo has scored 27 times for los Blancos this season.