Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is not convinced that Cristiano Ronaldo should be ranked among the best in the world. The Manchester United ace clinched the Ballon d'Or this year, and is a frontrunner in the 2008 FIFA Footballer of the Year award as well. However, the outspoken Mourinho believes that his compatriot's success is largely due to United's achievements in 2008 as he considers Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be a better footballer. "Ronaldo is a good player but he's certainly not the best," the Portuguese coach told Italian TV. "He deserved the Ballon d'Or because his team won the Champions League and Premier League, he played and he scored. But for me, Ibrahimovic is better." The former Chelsea coach also revealed his admiration to Barcelona star Lionel Messi as he ruled out Ronaldo from his favorites list. "When I think about how a player should be what comes to mind is players like Kaka, Ibrahimovic and Messi, who is a phenomenon and in two or three years will win the Ballon d'Or," he said. Mourinho was involved in an off-the-pitch spat with Ronaldo last year, and the duo is set to meet again when United clash with Inter in the Champions League knockouts in February 2009.
