The Little Prince who wants to be the King

“WHENEVER I score a goal, I go back to being a child,” said Antoine Griezmann, the golden boy for France and Atletico Madrid.

That boy who once had to leave France in search of a football career is now one of the men expected to shine at the World Cup. At 27, Griezmann holds a major portion of France’s hopes for Russia 2018.

“Griezmann is yet to peak,” says France manager Didier Deschamps. “He is our leader in attack.”

Griezmann already led Les Bleus to the final at Euro 2016, scoring the most goals and provided the most assists as France qualified for the World Cup.

Years ago, no one in his country could see the short, apparently fragile boy’s potential or value a technique that put him on a l evel with t he world’s most talented players.

He was rejected by several French clubs. Olympique Lyon’s rejection was especially painful, because they were the club he supported, but Saint-Etienne and Auxerre did not want him either.

“At t he t i me, t hey wanted players who were 2m tall, capable of winning matches straight away, without thinking about what the future might bring,” Griezmann recently told the UEFA.com.

When he seemed doomed as a footballer, fate and Real Sociedad scout Eric Olhats changed the 13year-old’s life.

Olhats landed in Paris to watch a youth tournament, and little Griezmann only had 10 minutes to impress him.

“He did not stand out above everyone else. He played for 10 minutes as he came off the bench because he was physically, completely overwhelmed by other players,” Olhats told the website Ninja Turtles.

The long-time gem of Spain’s youth teams, a European champion with the U-19s in 2015 and the U-21s in 2017, Asensio is, at 22, hoping to finally in an L a I n f o r ma c i ó n . c o m interview.

“But that technique, that flow and that ease in play caught my eye.”

Olhats told Griezmann’s family in Macon about the option that he might play in San Sebastian, a Spanish city that is very close to France, with Real Sociedad.

The player was still very young, and his parents were difficult to convince.

According to French law, young players needed to keep attending school in their home country, so Griezmann was to continue his studies in Bayonne, in the French Basque Country, very close to the Spanish border.

Olhats e ventually hosted Griezmann for six years at his own home in Bayonne.

“I became his father, his mother, his grandma and his best friend,” Verdeamarela.

“Gabriel is a real player,” Brazil manager Tite said with great confidence.

We should also not forget the rising star defending champions Germany are expected to field in Russia: Leipzig striker Timo Werner, who is wanted by Europe’s major clubs.

Another young footballer who is making waves is Hirving Lozano, who is expected to shine with Mexico.

The fast 22-year-old winger is not only leading PSV Eindhoven, but has emerged one of Mexico’s main assets in Russia.

Uruguay’s defensive midfielder Lucas Sebastian Torreira, 22, who would be worth £87 million (RM 467 m) if he weren’t just 1.80m tall, according t o his manager at Sampdoria, and Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez, 20, who currently plays for Racing Avellaneda, complete the list of players who can rise to stardom in Russia.

They are neither Messi nor Ronaldo. Not even Eden Hazard, Griezmann or Neymar. But they will be the stars of the future, and this World Cup will give them a unique chance, not just to shine, but to make history. – dpa he recalls.

Griezmann scored a goal in his f i rst official game with Real Sociedad to launch an extremely f ast r i s e t hat now puts him alongside Neymar, and almost in touching distance with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I am giving my all to be in the global top three,” Griezmann admitted in an interview with Esquire magazine.

That statement seemed to be reality when Atletico Madrid were quick to realise his talent and signed him after four years with Real Sociedad’s senior team.

Griezmann’s level improved massively under Diego Simeone, and he became a global star which prompted rumours about a move to clubs like Manchester United and Barcelona, where he might have access to the only thing he is lacking at Atletico Madrid.

“He doesn’t get carried away and keeps doing what he is best at.

“(Individual) Titles are the only thing he is missing,” says Olhats, who puts Griezmann on a par with France’s greatest football legend, Zinedine Zidane.

It is no coincidence that, when Griezmann was a ball boy at the Real Sociedad stadium, he asked Zidane for his shirt, as he admits in his biography, Behind the Smile.

“He had already swapped with a rival... I was so disappointed,” he recalls.

The man nicknamed “The Little Prince” is hoping to deliver and become king in Russia 2018.

With Griezmann i nspiring Atletico to win the UEFA Europa League, that might just be the confident booster that France need from him for this World Cup. – dpa