Arsene Wenger believes prolific France forward Antoine Griezmann can win the FIFA Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Gunners chief, who is doing television work at UEFA Euro 2016, told media outlet Konbini, via FourFourTwo, Griezmann is on a par with the two biggest stars in the sport, something that makes the forward a legitimate candidate for the Ballon d’Or:
"In Spain, he is not far from Ronaldo and Messi. Age is on his side and look at the Euros: six goals, three or four assists – these stats are not nothing.This year he went to the Champions League final by scoring in all the big games, not to mention that he scored 22 goals in La Liga, so yes – why not the Ballon d’Or."
The same article noted how Brazilian schemer Kaka was the last player other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or.
Backing Griezmann to end Ronaldo and Messi’s dominance of FIFA’s premier award may read like lofty praise, but it’s merited for a forward who displays the best movement in Europe.
Griezmann packs acceleration, intelligence, instinct and impeccable timing into his diminutive frame. Those qualities make him the attacking talisman for both France and La Liga side Atletico Madrid.
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They are also attributes that are finally bringing Griezmann to the attention of a larger audience. It’s long overdue praise, but the footballing community has noticed Griezmann, and many of its members believe their clubs should do all it takes to sign the prolific 25-year-old.
Those connected with Arsenal are no exception.Former player Ray Parlour recently told Sky Sports, via Tom Dutton of the London Evening Standard how Griezmann could fire the Gunners to the Premier League title.
Meanwhile, outspoken Arsenal fan Piers Morgan also endorsed Wenger making a move for Griezmann, believing the jet-heeled goal-getter would improve those around him.
Wanting Griezmann is something of a moot point since he extended his contract with Atleti until 2021 last month, per the club. Yet, the irony here is that Wenger once pursued Griezmann before the cerebral forward joined Atletico.
Arsenal were linked with the then-Real Sociedad ace back in 2014, according to the London Evening Standard‘s Alex Kalinauckas. Later that same year, Griezmann even confirmed how he turned down an approach from the Gunners before moving to the Spanish capital, per Anthony Hay of MailOnline.
Griezmann would have been perfect for an Arsenal team that loves to thread passes between the lines to meet pace and perceptive movement in the final third. Not signing Griezmann when he had the chance has to rate as one of the bigger missteps of the Wenger era, especially since he clearly rates the forward so highly.