The Golden Ball ? "Everyone wants to have it!" Joked Tuesday Antoine Griezmann, still scorer with Atlético Madrid against Dortmund in the Champions League (2-0) and more than ever claiming the prestigious trophy whose vote ends Friday .
"I hope it will be for a Frenchman," commented the star striker of the Blues, crowned world champion with the French team this summer in Russia.
Asked if he could be the lucky winner against Kylian Mbappé or Croatian Luka Modric, he replied with a big smile: "Of course, who does not want to have it? the world wants to have it! " sliced Griezmann.
"Everybody has it in his head, when you're 18, when you get to the training center, you make your first steps, everyone wants it, if it's my year, I do not know, we will see, " added the Frenchman laughing.
By scoring a nice goal late against Dortmund and delivering a full performance, Griezmann said he was aware of scoring points to convince the remaining undecided of a jury of about 200 journalists. "Surely, the Champions League is very watched and we talk about it a lot, so much the better if I score," he said, saying he was "proud" to have worn the captain's armband Tuesday night.
'Candidate number 1'
His Atlético partners are also campaigning for the French to win the trophy for best player in the world, like his compatriot Lucas Hernandez. "It's true that he has had a huge season, he was decisive in everything he did, he deserves it this year," said the French international defender in the mixed zone.
"Afterwards, if we do not give him, I do not know ... You're the journalists who see football in another way, maybe, but I think this year he's the one who owes For me, it's the number one candidate , " added Lucas.
For the native of Marseille, Griezmann worthily assumed his role as captain of Atlético these days in the absence of Diego Godin and Koke, wounded. "He's taking all the responsibilities on the ground as a captain, he's a very good captain because he's a guy with a lot of experience, we young people, we listen to him." it is true that he is taking us on the right track, " concluded Lucas Hernandez.