Atletico Madrid and France star Antoine Griezmann has said winning the Ballon d’Or award would be “incredible”.
The coveted accolade, awarded by football magazine France Football, honours the best football player of the year according to a range of senior European football journalists.
Griezmann has enjoyed a stellar year both at club and international level, with a Europa League trophy, a European Super Cup and a World Cup title to his name.
He says he believes he has a good chance to add the Ballon d’Or to his trophy cabinet when the award is presented in Paris on December 3 – although he faces tough competition from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Harry Kane.
“On a personal level, that’s the highest you can get,” Griezmann told ESPN. “It’s the most historic award, the most prestigious one.
“However, I also am a player who thinks collectively over individually, but it would be nice [to win it] for myself, because of everything I’ve gone through, especially after having to separate myself from my family at 13 years old.
“Since I was 13 until 18 years of age, when I signed my first professional contract, those were tough moments. Only because of that it would be incredible for my parents, my siblings and for myself.”