Mourinho DENIES former Inter star was 'robbed' of Ballon d'Or ahead of Messi

Jose Mourinho has denied that one of his former Inter Milan stars was 'robbed' of the Ballon d'Or in 2010.

The former AS Roma manager had been speaking for one of the first times since he was sacked, sitting down with Rio Ferdinand and YouTube channel co-host Stephen Howson to discuss a variety of topics.

While areas included his failure to boot out bad eggs during his time as Manchester United manager and a prediction of who the Premier League and Champions League winners would be, the Portuguese coach also to took time to discuss one of his former players.

Mourinho made history in the 2009-10 season when he lifted the Champions League title with Inter Milan, a team anchored by Dutchman Wesley Sneijder that also tasted Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

But the midfielder came up short in the Ballon d'Or rankings, finishing fourth behind Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. That for Mourinho, however, wasn't an issue, as he expained on FIVE.

'I don't like to say robbed,' Mourinho said. 'Who won it, Messi? So not robbed.

'But Wesley did the treble, Champions League winner, I think World Cup final the same season. So Wesley should be there at least in the top three, but when, in the last generation, Cristiano [Ronaldo] and Messi, they win the Ballon d'Or, it is never robbed.'

Messi has won eight Ballon d'Ors in his career, picking up his latest and likely his last in 2023 ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

Ronaldo has won five, including in 2013 when he played under Mourinho for around six months.

One of the two men have won 13 of the last 15 awards, meaning it has been hard for other players to break the mould, however it is likely a new era will be entered with Messi now playing in the MLS and Ronaldo the Saudi Pro League.

Mourin