Ballon d'Or talk will ring hollow if Antoine Griezmann can't back up words v Barcelona

It is a special talent that can remain subtle amid glaring returns of 29 goals in all club competitions for 2017/18 (including a brace in May’s 3-0 Europa League showpiece triumph against countrymen Marseille) and four strikes (a tally that features a penalty-kick in the 4-2 final victory against Croatia) along the way to Les Bleus’ second-ever global success.

Understatement escapes Griezmann, however, when it comes to discussing his own merits. Namely, a pursuit of the Ballon d’Or.

This is why Saturday’s clash with La Liga champions Barcelona – suitors he came infamously close to joining in the summer – is aptly timed. Even if voting has closed for the award the 27-year-old most covets.

It, first, comes amid fevered rumour about suspected leaks over the identity of the final three.

In some quarters, Griezmann features in the final three-man shortlist that will break the decade-long duopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

In others, international colleagues Kylian Mbappe and Raphael Varane will be the ones battling Croatia’s Luka Modric.

Either way, the Macon-born superstar’s electioneering has been so flagrant for the game’s greatest individual prize and causes such exasperation, that you ignore just why he’s such a strong contender.

It certainly didn’t help him make the podium for The Best.

Rip through a suspect defence though, and the top-flight leadership is Atleti’s. Add to his tally of six goals in 24 career run-outs against the Catalans and Griezmann’s ascendancy will gain ratification – no matter the Ballon d’Or’s destination.

Such a display will provide a reminder to treat his words as mere distraction.

Griezmann is eminently capable of providing a reminder on the pitch that is worth far more than any reel of documentary film, or the contents of a journalist’s dictaphone.

June’s “The Decision” about his snubbing of Barca was overwrought and hackneyed. NBA superstar LeBron James began the trend back in 2010.

When it comes to lifting the Ballon d’Or, Griezmann’s actions have been just as blatant.

In September, he was wondering to L’Equipe “what else I have to do”.

A month later, the message to France Football was: “In this best team in the world, there must be the best player in the world, right?

“In any case, that’s what I think. Afterwards, there are votes, opinions, different judgements.”

Even last week on international duty, he couldn’t leave it alone.

“I want to win it [Ballon d’Or] too,” Griezmann told reporters after a 1-0 friendly win against Uruguay – his adopted nation.

Asked if he felt obsessed, he responded: “No, that is a problem with France.

“People there do not like when you seek something for yourself individually, but I’m proud to be there and hopefully I will win it.

“Of course, there are other people who can win it and they deserve it too, so let’s see what happens.”

This retort holds weight. Bandwagons are launched to press Ronaldo’s – of the Portuguese variety – candidacy, either directly or indirectly.

Even teenaged compatriot Mbappe replied “I did everything I could” when pressed on the matter this month.

It is the frequency, however, of Griezmann’s proclamations that make him standout.

In the opposition ranks at Wanda Metropolitano this weekend will be found a reminder of how simple the route to the Ballon d’Or can be.

Messi’s five Ballon d’Or’s were all earned with his feet, rather than his mouth.

There is a lesson here for Griezmann.