Matuidi: Griezmann should be in Ballon d'Or contention

Antoine Griezmann's name should be mentioned in the same breath as perennial Ballon d'Or victors Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

That's the message from French midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who waxed lyrical about his compatriot in the buildup to Sunday's Euro 2016 final.

"Griezmann is an exceptional player," Matuidi was quoted as saying by AS. "He's brimming with talent, and he knows how to keep his feet on the ground.

"I think he's a candidate for the Ballon d'Or. If I had to vote, I'd vote for him."

Call the gangly star biased if you like, but it's impossible to ignore the marvellous season - and tournament - the French forward is enjoying. Heading into Sunday's final, Griezmann leads the competition with six goals, adding a pair of assists to his impressive haul.

Should he leave Euro 2016 with a winner's medal, Golden Boot and player of the tournament honour, it would be daft to ignore his credentials as a potential Ballon d'Or candidate.

Of course, Ronaldo could easily scupper that with a strong showing of his own on Sunday.

"It's also undeniable that what Cristiano (Ronaldo) has done deserves a lot of credit, but the final is not Cristiano-Griezmann - it's Portugal-France," Matuidi added.

"They're not just about Cristiano - they also have Renato Sanches, who is having a great tournament, and Pepe. We are both good sides, and we're going to fight to be champions."