Griezmann spoke to France Football about getting close to Messi and Ronaldo and says he won the World Cup thanks to Cholo Simeone's help.
The arrival of Diego Simeone on the bench for Atlético Madrid has seen them win seven titles and has helped to establish them as one of the big European clubs. The players have received a boost too. With the exception of 2015, since his first full year on the bench in 2012, at least one rojiblanco player has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or except for in 2015. In 2016 Griezmann was name as one of the top three before losing out to eventual winner Cristiano Ronaldo. That is something that hadn't happened since 1987 when Paulo Futre was named second on voting.
With Simeone in charge, seven Atlético Madrid players have been named among the very best in the world. Oblak, Godín and Griezmann are on the list in 2018 to continue that trend. The other players include Falcao, who was named twice along with Courtois, Koke and Diego Costa, who have all been named once. "The first message I sent after winning the World Cup was Simeone," said Griezmann in an interview with France Football as he explains that a "French player has to win it."
Griezmann credits Simeone with World Cup success
"I sent a photo of the cup to Cholo," he said about the message he sent to Simeone. "And I said to him: 'Look at how beautiful it is. I won this because of you.' This World Cup was for him."
It was Simeone who convinced Griezmann that they could actuall do it when he sent him a message after beating Argentina in the last 16. "When the trainer says that, a guy who knows football well, that knows how we play... saying that he saw us strong tactically. It was the moment when I thought that we could do it."
"These are genuine legends. Every year they are there, they never rest, they score 50 goals, win trophies, ballon d'Ors and then they come back and do it again," he says about comparing himself to Messi and Ronaldo. "This year I won the European Super Cup, the World Cup and the Europa League. Because of that, I used the image of Messi and Ronaldo at the same table. Over the course of a career, it's difficult to get close to them, but for one year, I think it's possible."
arifk17
304
I've seen many sharp shooters like Cristiano, Lewandowski etc, many dribblers like Maradona, Best etc, many playmakers like Zidane, Xavi etc, many prolific goalscorers like Ronaldo, Romario etc, many players having vision like Scholes, Modric etc, many having ball control like Iniesta, Ronaldinho etc, many talented Free Kick takers like Beckham, Juninho etc, many speedsters like Bale, Robben etc, many assist providers like Ozil, De Bruyne etc, many passers like Kroos, Pirlo etc. But.. but... I've never witnessed a man who is capable of doing everything... a man who dominates almost all aspects of this game.. other than LIONEL MESSI...
18°AllAngles
241
you are a talented footballer I give that. but for you to say that you are rubbing elbows with Messi and Ronaldo is very disrespectful. all because you won the world cup playing on a brilliant team that could easily win it without you. outside of winning the world cup, what have you done that makes you deserved of the Ballon dor. were you top scorer in Laliga and the Champions League?how about leading in assists? listen, if you had Argentina piss poor team you wouldn't even have made it to the world cup let alone drag them to the round of 16. so show some more respect to the two greats .
Jake41
224
We talk about Greizman after Messi, CR7, Hazard and Neymar. Please someone tell Greizmann that the Ballondor is an individual award. If France football gives the ballondor to Greizmann, then every country should create it's own award and give it to its footballers. #ballond'or_is_an_individual_award
Christopher_Robin
123
You are very close to these legends I must say but these two players are irreplaceable ppl whose era will never be forgotten. I feel so lucky to be present during their tenure as footballers. At the end of their carers they will make their mark into the book of legends and something almost impossible to accomplish. #CR7 #LM10