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Antoine Griezmann Reveals The Four Players He's Competing Against

Antoine Griezmann Reveals The Four Players He's Competing Against

He feels it'll be difficult to match Messi and Ronaldo.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Antoine Griezmann finished third behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2016 Ballon d'Or rankings but he doesn't see himself in the same conversation as the two titans.

Since joining Atletico, Griezmann has notched a total of 112 goals in four seasons. But while it's a highly impressive tally, Messi and Ronaldo's ridiculous numbers make it look very normal.

And so the World Cup winner is very realistic about the task at hand in reaching those sort of heights.

"It's still going to be 'Cristiano, Messi, and the rest' for a while," he told FIFA.com.

"Those of us below them have to try and get closer, but it's a big gap to close. I always try to improve on what I did the previous season, because matching what Messi and Cristiano do by scoring 50 to 60 goals a year is very difficult.

"They're on a different level - you can maybe be up there with them one year, but not the next."

Griezmann feels he's in the section below the deadly duo, saying he compares himself with compatriot Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Robert Lewandowski and Eden Hazard.

Image: PA
Image: PA

"I do compare myself with Neymar, [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe, who's on fire at the moment, and [Eden] Hazard," he said. "I try to be the best and see what the others do."

Griezmann was named the best player in last season's Europa League as Atleti went all the way to win the competition yet again.

He started the current campaign with another trophy triumph after Diego Simeone's side beat rivals Real 4-2 in the UEFA Super Cup.

The former Real Sociedad man trolled Sergio Ramos afterwards with a cheeky Instagram post.

Image: Instagram
Image: Instagram
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Topics: Football News, Football, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Ballon d'Or, Cristiano Ronaldo