Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann is at the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to David Villa.

France international Griezmann has enjoyed his best season to date in 2015-16, scoring 29 goals in all competitions to keep Atletico in the hunt for a league and Champions League double.

And Villa, who left Atletico to join New York City just prior to Griezmann's arrival from Real Sociedad in 2014, has no doubt that 25-year-old must now be considered among the very best players in the world.

Asked by Marca if he were at Messi and Ronaldo's level, Villa said: "Yes. At the highest level you have to analyse things in a certain way, with all the different players, but Griezmann is one of the best players right now in world football. For the things that he's doing, the focus he has... 

"I have a lot of friends in the dressing room and they are amazed by him, as a person and a footballer. He's young, he has a long future as a forward and has massive potential."