Paris, Dec 20 (IANS) Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann has been chosen by French magazine France Football as the country's best football player of the year for 2016.
The 25-year-old forward was awarded the honour by the prestigious magazine that presents the FIFA Ballon d'Or, reports Efe news agency.
Antoine Griezmann has been sensational this year – truly announcing his arrival on the stage that has been bossed by the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.He was instrumental in guiding France to the final of the EURO 2016 on home soil – pulling the strings in his role just behind the centre-forward. The French striker was also named UEFA Euro 2016 Player of the Tournament. It is role that he has perfected under Diego Simeone – and at Atletico Madrid, the Griezmann had great success, finishing as the club's top scorer and helping them to finish third in a tight La Liga title race, while only narrowly missing out on getting the UEFA Champions League crown – losing it on penalties to Real Madrid.
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He pushed away stiff competition from former Juventus, and current Manchester United superstar, Paul Pogba and West Ham’s sensational Dimitri Payet
Griezmann succeeds Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who won the award in 2015.
Griezmann was runner-up with France in Euro 2016 and the UEFA Champions League with Atletico Madrid.
-IANS
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