Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon d'Or rather than Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
And Mourinho believes his prize asset is a better player than the Barca star.
Messi has won the award for the last three years in a row and is the odds-on favourite with bookmakers to collect the 2012 edition.
But Mourinho believes his compatriot should scoop the prize ahead of the Argentina international.
"It would be a crime if Cristiano didn't win the Ballon d'Or," the Portuguese told A Bola.
"If Messi is the best in the world, it's only because Cristiano is from another planet.
"He wasn't born on Madeira, but on Mars. So he's not from planet Earth. That's why he's the best player in the universe.
"If Cristiano does not win it this year, it has to do with his image. He doesn't sell himself well and isn't always a nice guy."
Mourinho also believes it is harder for Ronaldo to shine as he has spent his career at more than one club.
"Things are much harder for Cristiano than they are for Messi," he added.
"Messi grew up with his current team and team-mates.
"Cristiano, on the other hand, came here from England and arrived at a struggling team. He has had to develop in a team that wasn't the finished article yet."
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