Jose Mourinho once offered a compelling analysis on why it's harder to be Ronaldo than Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo will, without question, go down as one of the greatest footballers ever to play the game. 

However, thanks to the presence of a certain Lionel Messi, plenty will argue that the Portuguese superstar isn't even the best player of his generation. 

With seven Ballon d'Or crowns to his name compared to Ronaldo's five, Barcelona legend Messi does have the edge when it comes to individual honours in the GOAT debate.

Jose Mourinho, who managed Ronaldo during his time as Real Madrid boss, doesn't believe that tally is a fair reflection of the performances of the pair over the years - arguing back in 2012 that his player worked far harder than Messi on the pitch.

Although he first came to international prominence with Manchester United, Ronaldo was at his brilliant best while plying his trade at the Bernabeu. Scoring a staggering 450 goals in 438 appearances to become Los Blancos' record goalscorer, his impact in the Spanish capital was unprecedented.

Mourinho only worked with Ronaldo for three seasons between 2010 and 2013. However, during that spell, the pair managed to win a La Liga title and a Copa del Rey trophy together as Real's key man helped himself to 168 goals in 164 games.

That impressive strike rate was eventually enough for Ronaldo to claim a second career Ballon d'Or in 2013, breaking a three-year streak of Messi successes.

That trio of wins for the Argentine did not sit well with Mourinho, who insisted the Ronaldo deserved greater recognition when it came to France Football's grandest honour.

In a 2012 interview with A Bola, the 'Special One' suggested that critics needed to take a look at the different paths that Messi and Ronaldo had taken to footballing glory before considering who was truly