Griezmann's Top 5: Surprising Rankings of Messi and Ronaldo

Antoine Griezmann attracted notice when he announced his top five greatest football players ever, featuring Lionel Messi but unexpectedly leaving out Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Atletico Madrid forward recently shared his personal ranking of the five greatest players of all time on a popular Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos' show. At 34 years old, having experienced most of his peak career and faced many legends, Griezmann is well-qualified to offer his own perspective. His list quickly sparked lively debate due to its surprising elements and clear personal emotions.

According to Griezmann, the five best players in history are David Beckham, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Zinedine Zidane, who tops the list. Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s biggest rival over the past two decades, is absent. Despite having faced CR7 multiple times in the Champions League and Euro tournaments, Griezmann chose not to include the Portuguese superstar, a decision that caught fans’ attention.

David Beckham’s inclusion is an interesting highlight. Many believe the former Manchester United star hardly fits into the top five greatest players, yet Griezmann has his own reasons. He admitted: "Beckham was my childhood idol. Because of him, I chose the number 7 jersey, liked changing my hairstyle, and always wore long-sleeved shirts during matches." Having a personal hero in the list of legends shows that Griezmann views football not only through achievements but also through emotions and lifelong attachments.

By placing Zinedine Zidane at number one, Griezmann further expresses pride in French football and the golden generation that inspired him. His list reflects not only the taste of a current star but also reveals his unique perspective on the spiritual values of modern football.

Do you think Griezmann was fair in leaving Cristiano Ronaldo out of his top 5 legends?