The French forward has re-established himself among the elite players over the past 12 months, but has received little to no recognition.
On October 30, France Football announced the final Ballon d’Or rankings for 2023. The ceremony in Paris drew attention from fans around the world as the names of the year’s standout performers were displayed on a star-studded stage. The atmosphere reinforced how quickly opinion can shift in football, with debates intensifying about who truly defined the season and who might have been overlooked amid expectations and record-breaking performances.
In the top echelons, Jamal Musiala, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard earned spots within the top 20, alongside household names like Mo Salah, Lautaro Martinez, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The evening crowned Lionel Messi with his eighth Ballon d’Or, a historic milestone that underscored a career marked by consistency at the highest level. Close behind, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinicius Jr. demonstrated why the Ballon d’Or conversation remains a revolving door of elite talent, influence, and moments that defined entire seasons.
Antoine Griezmann’s inclusion in the list turned heads, finishing 21st after a campaign where Atlético Madrid was unable to sustain a long European run or collect major domestic trophies. The result sparked discussion about how form translates across competitions and how a player’s value is perceived when a club area of the world shifts expectations mid-cycle. Some observers felt the ranking did Griezmann a disservice, given the forward’s experience and impact on France’s national team and his club responsibilities.
Jan Oblak, Atlético’s goalkeeper and a voice of calm in the dugout, admitted frustration about Griezmann’s placement when speaking with GOAL. His candid reactions highlighted how players and club figures interpret awards differently, weighing titles, influence in key games, and consistency across campaigns in both international and club contexts. These conversations are a reminder that individual awards exist within a broader tapestry of team performance and competition dynamics.
Since the start of the 2022 World Cup in November, Griezmann has accumulated 25 goals and 17 assists across his club and country, a tally that reinforces his value as a playmaker and goal threat. He has been central to an unbeaten France Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, with his creativity and decision-making helping the national team secure a steady path toward major finals. In the early months of the current season, Diego Simeone’s side have relied on Griezmann to supply goals and structure, placing Atlético in a strong position to challenge for a return to Europe’s premier competitions after a relative drought in the domestic league’s upper echelons.
Looking ahead, Sunday’s fixture saw Griezmann facing a familiar foe as Atlético prepared to visit his former club, Barcelona. The clash felt symbolic—an opportunity for Griezmann to test how his experience translates against a team that once benefited from his contributions, while also posing strategic questions for Barcelona about how to neutralize a player who remains capable of tipping tight matches with momentary genius. For fans, the game offered another layer to the ongoing narrative about how players who once soared at major clubs continue to influence outcomes in the modern era of football, where tactical evolution and squad depth often determine success as much as star power does.