🏆 Ballon d'OneFootball: Comeback of the year earns 16th... | OneFootball

Welcome to the fourth annual edition of the Ballon d’OneFootball as we begin our countdown of the top 25 players in the world right now. Here’s an explainer how we decided on a top 25.

Here’s the list so far.

And today we have …

16th: Antoine Griezmann, Atlético de Madrid and France

(New entry)

2022/23 was quite the season for Antoine Griezmann, as he showed the world why he remains one of its best players.

Few would have predicted the Frenchman would find himself this high on the list, or in the list at all, last autumn as he was left in purgatory on the Atlético de Madrid bench, unable to play 30 minutes or more due to a stipulation in his loan deal from Barcelona.

To avoid paying a big fee that would make Griezmann’s return permanent, Diego Simeone used one of his most trusted lieutenants as a super sub to start the season. And to great effect against the likes of Getafe and Valencia. Eventually, the matter was resolved in October, with Griezmann permanently rejoining the club he had left for Barça in 2019.

Things only picked up from there and it was at the World Cup that Griezmann truly showed he was still at the top of his game, albeit from a very different position than we were used to seeing.

With Paul Pogba out and France lacking experience and guile in the middle of the park, Griezmann was dropped deeper into a deeper midfield role than he’d ever played before.

It was less blood and guts, more panache and class, not that he was afraid to stick his boot when needed.

Griezmann helped France to their second consecutive final, was named the Man of the Match in their semi-final victory over Morocco and ended the tournament as the joint-top assist maker with three, with his performances earning him recognition globally as the likes of the Guardian and the Independent (both UK), Globo Esporte (Brazil), kicker (Germany), AS (Spain) all named him in their team of the tournament.

Quickly moving past the heartache of defeat in the final in Qatar, the 32-year-old used the tournament as a springboard for his best form in years, with 10 of his 15 goals and 13 of his 17 assists in LaLiga in 2022/23 coming following the league’s resumption in late December.

He was the catalyst for Atleti’s upturn in form, as fresh life was breathed into Simeone’s long reign and the club’s form saw them set a new club record of nine consecutive league wins at home on their way to a third-placed finish.

Next season promises to be a big one for the playmaker, as he looks to finally land his first LaLiga title; Atleti’s two league titles in 2014 and 2020 came before both of his arrivals at the club.

Plus there’s Euro 2024 to look forward to. Will this career renaissance continue to go from strength to strength?

Click here for every player named so far and their profiles.