Griezmann not world class yet, claims Franck Ribery

10/18/2016

Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery has claimed that his International team-mate Antoine Griezmann is not "world class" yet even though the Atletico striker claimed the golden boot at Euro2016. Griezmann has scored six goals in as many appearances in La Liga this season.

Griezmann is one of the most wanted players in the world right now with major English clubs linked with him in every transfer window. He was instrumental in Atletico's title challenge last season and his seven goals in the Champions league played a big part in Atletico's run to the final. During the summer, he won the Golden boot at the Euros as France made it all the way to the final.

Ribery, however, feels that players are labeled world-class far too early after just one good season.

"Yes, last season he played well, but you should only be considered world-class when you consistently deliver these performances," the Bayern winger told Bild.

"We are too quick to say after one good season, 'This player is outstanding, he must win the Ballon d'Or.' I don't agree with this. Quality means, for me, churning out top performances over a period of 10, 12 or 15 years. Then, I say well played too."

Ribery, who came back from a long term injury towards the end of last season, then went on to claim that he had been on the top of his game for an entire decade, thereby implying that he should be included in the world-class category.

"OK, I was injured for nine months last year, but other than that I was almost always at the top of my game over the past decade," the Frenchman concluded.

Griezmann's response was an unbiased one stating that he could see where Ribery was coming from and that he still had a long career ahead of him and he would continue working hard. But when one has been in the zone for over a year, he does deserve to get a little cocky as his response clearly shows.

"I will continue working. As he says, we'll see at the end what kind of player I am, but I know I'm on the right track." he told Eurosport.

"Everyone has an opinion. To my father, for example, I'm the best player in the world. To the fans of Atletico, too."