Antoine Griezmann is fixated on winning the Ballon d'Or because he believes it would fulfil his "dream" of ranking among Atletico Madrid's all-time greats.
World Cup winner Griezmann is part of a star-studded 30-man shortlist vying for the coveted individual prize.
The 27-year-old has made no secret of his hope to improve on the third-place finish he managed in 2016 and believes he has done enough to break the decade-long duopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Griezmann, who starred on the way to Europa League glory last season, views the France Football honour as a sure-fire way to cement his Atleti legacy.
"To win the Ballon d'Or at Atletico Madrid would allow me to go down in the club's history," Griezmann told Marca.
"Being a historic player for this club would be a dream and make me proud. That's what I want, what I'm looking for.
"I am a very ambitious man and I always want more."
Griezmann is bidding to become Atleti's first recipient of the Ballon d'Or in the award's 62-year history.
The influential forward in his fifth season with Diego Simeone's side, having signed from Real Sociedad in 2014.
