Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has stated that while he holdsBarcelona's Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi in very high regard, he would have prefered another player to scoop the award.

Messi became one of a rare breed by winning the award two years in a row, after pipping Barcelona team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta to the finishing line.

Mourinho clearly felt that his Inter treble-winning side, which beat Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, deserved some recognition.

"I have already spoken on this issue. For me, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi are players from another planet," the los Blancos mastermind told AS.

"However, I would prefer Xavi, [Wesley] Sneijder or Diego Milito [had won the award]. First of all I would have prefered Milito and Sneijder if you take each game that they performed in for Inter.

"As for Xavi, it will hurt as well. I have known him a long time and I am very appreciative of him," Mourinho said.