Ronaldo and Mourinho honoured

LISBON: Triple Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed as Portugal’s player of the century at a gala to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their football federation on Wednesday.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho picked up the award as Portuguese coach of the century at a red carpet event at the Estoril casino 10km outside Lisbon.

The Real Madrid star, who scored 60 goals in 61 games in 2014, came out of a vote ahead of Eusebio known as the Black Pearl in the 1960’s, and Luis Figo who won the Ballon d’Or in 2000.

Ronaldo himself clinched a third Ballon d’Or on Monday, having previously won the ultimate individual award in football in 2008 and 2013.

The 29-year-old, who led Real Madrid to the Champions League title last season with 17 goals in 11 games, was absent from the gala preparing for Real’s King’s Cup clash with crosstown rivals Atletico at the Bernabeu.

Holders Real are on the verge of elimination after losing the first leg 2-0.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo said his son Cris junior is a Lionel Messi fan.

After Ronaldo was named 2014 Ballon d’Or winner, beating four-time winner Messi into second place, the two players had a friendly exchange.

Ronaldo told his arch-rival Messi of Barcelona: “He [Cris] watches a video on the internet of all of us and he talks about you.”