Antoine Griezmann: 'I'm not at Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo level yet'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 04 October 2016

Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann admits that he is not yet at the level of Barcelona's Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has admitted that he is not yet at the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo have widely been regarded as the two best players in world football for almost a decade now, sharing the last eight Ballons d'Or between them.

However, Griezmann hit 32 goals for Atletico last season, was the top scorer and player of the tournament in this summer's European Championships and has already scored six times in the new campaign to help Atletico to the top of La Liga.

"I think I still have more to do to be their equal, starting with winning titles. They've won them and they keep winning them," he told L'Equipe.

"But as I've said in the past, I want to sit at their table. And I think I'm getting there, bit by bit. I hope to stay there as long as possible."

Griezmann, who finished second to Ronaldo in UEFA's Best Player in Europe award, has scored 51 goals in 71 league starts since joining Atletico in 2014.