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Antoine Griezmann: I deserve best player nomination alongside Cristiano Ronaldo

Antoine Griezmann scored twice for France against Republic of Ireland
Image: Antoine Griezmann had an amazing season for Atletico Madrid and France

Antoine Griezmann insists he deserves to be nominated alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best players in Europe after a stunning season for both club and country.

The Atletico Madrid and France striker is up for UEFA's Best Player award alongside Real Madrid pair Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, with the winner being announced ahead of Thursday's Champions League draw.

Griezmann scored 29 goals for his club, as well as six in six games for France at Euro 2016 - twice as many as any other player at the tournament.

Speaking to UEFA's website ahead of the announcement, he said of his nomination: "It means I'm on the right track to be among the best. I have to keep going that way, keep working hard and giving joy to people when I play.

Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann takes a penalty kick during the UEFA Champions League final
Image: Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann takes a penalty during the Champions League final

"Without being big-headed, I think I deserve the nomination because I had a great season with my club and the national team."

Griezmann faces stiff competition, though, especially from favourite Ronaldo after the 31-year-old helped Portugal to Euro 2016 glory following a sixth consecutive 50 or more goals campaign.

The amazing season, which also saw him finish as the Champions League's top scorer, is among the best of Ronaldo's impressive career, according to the man himself.

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Antoine Griezmann
Image: Griezmann scored twice as many goals as any other player at Euro 2016

"In terms of trophies it was possibly the best of my career," he told UEFA. "After winning the Champions League, winning the European Championship with my country capped an extraordinary year.

"The same goes both collectively and individually, because I was top scorer in the Champions League and had a good European Championship. It really was a top-drawer, excellent season for me."

Ronaldo was quick to praise his team-mates, but specific compliments were saved for manager Zinedine Zidane, who the Portugal star insists turned Real Madrid's season around.

"Zidane was key," he said. "He's a great professional, a great person and, in my opinion, his biggest quality is his ability to give his players a sense of calm. That's what we needed and after he arrived the team went from 0 to 100.

Cristiano Ronaldo non è ancora sazio: vuole la prossima Champions League (Getty)
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo scored over 50 goals for Real Madrid and won Euro 2016

"We were 12 points behind Barcelona and we ended up just one point adrift. In the Champions League we did what we had to do - and went on to win it. What more could you ask? Zidane deserves a lot of credit."

The third star bidding for glory as UEFA's Best Player in Europe is Wales' Bale. He was his country's star man at Euro 2016 as Chris Coleman's side made it all the way to the semi-final stage.

At the Bernabeu, he averaged a goal every 92 minutes in La Liga and played a vital role in his side's route to Champions League glory.

LYON, FRANCE - JULY 06:  Gareth Bale of Wales reacts during the UEFA EURO 2016 semi final match between Portugal and Wales at Stade des Lumieres on July 6,
Image: Gareth Bale was Wales' star man at Euro 2016 and impressed for Real Madrid too

Of the nomination, Bale said: "It's a fantastic honour. You don't just get these individual awards on your own, you get them through playing for your team and to be nominated is amazing.

"I have to give a big thanks to all my team-mates at international and club levels. Obviously I want to win trophies with my team, with my country, and when you do that you get put up for awards like this."

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