Antoine Griezmann put Bayern Munich to the sword and is now one of the world’s best… the Atletico Madrid forward's talent is one the Premier League sorely lacks

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Sprung clear some 45 yards from goal, Antoine Griezmann had plenty of time to think.

He had time to consider the world’s best goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, with whom he now faced a battle of wits.

He had time to consider the 70,000 partisan Bavarians as they howled for an offside flag that would never arrive.

Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring for Atletico Madrid against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night

Griezmann slots the ball past Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for a crucial away goal

He had time to consider the enormity of the opportunity in front of him and the consequences of forgoing it.

But none of that entered the equation. Instead, with the ease and cunning of a snake charmer, Griezmann drew Neuer to him and duly slotted into the bottom corner. It was a cold-hearted and venomous blow.

Atletico Madrid were in the final of the Champions League and Bayern Munich were not, dumped out at the semi-final stage for the third successive season under Pep Guardiola.

Perhaps then, as he considered the impact of Griezmann’s killer intervention, Guardiola pondered the possibility of starting his new life at Manchester City with the man who had all but ended his current one in Munich.

Griezmann is undoubtedly one of the world’s best players at this moment in time, a forward whose estimated value threatens to eclipse the £86million world-record fee Real Madrid paid for Gareth Bale in 2013.

With 31 goals - and counting - for Atletico this season, it is little wonder the Premier League vultures - each with their unimaginable wealth and desperate need for a marquee signing - are circling the Vicente Calderon and their most prized asset.

Griezmann (left) is lofted into the air as he celebrates his goal at the Allianz Arena with his team-mates

Griezmann is congratulated by the Atletico Madrid fans as the club progress to the Champions League final

Griezmann fits the bill of elite-level player our top flight so badly craves to justify its incoming television riches, for the game’s most talented stars still reside in La Liga.

That, of course, is where the 25-year-old is likely to remain given the spell under which he has been cast by Diego Simeone, the coach who has extracted both craft and graft from his winger-turned-striker.

In that respect, Griezmann is very much in the mould of the modern-day superstar, a player boasting the daring skill of a wideman allied to the predatory instincts of a free-scoring forward.

Think Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lionel Messi - Griezmann is the next cab off the rank when it comes to catching a ride to the big time.

He will lead the line for hosts France at this summer’s European Championship and he could yet be bidding for an historic personal treble of his own. Atletico are level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga with two games to play, and then there is the Champions League date with either Real Madrid or Manchester City in Milan later this month.

Griezmann in action for France during an international friendly against Russia earlier this year

Griezmann (left) chases down Matthew Phillips during an Under-20 match between France and England in 2011

Griezmann’s emergence as talisman for club and country might surprise some, especially the scouts of Lyon - 50 miles south of his hometown of Macon - who deemed the teenager too lightweight for a youth contract.

Others, too, including Paris Saint-Germain, decided against the diminutive yet talented wideman.

Indeed, Griezmann has never kicked a ball in France's Ligue 1 and it was Real Sociedad who took a chance on the 14-year-old and moved him in with their French scout, Eric Olhats, in a bid to help the youngster settle.

It turned out to be a shrewd investment and, nearly a decade later, he joined Atletico for £24m.

Griezmann (right) challenges Lionel Messi during his time at Real Sociedad in December 2010

Griezmann (right) vies for the ball with Cristiano Ronaldo during a La Liga match in September 2010

Those in his homeland have forgiven his defection, even if he does appear to now speak more easily in Spanish than he does in his native tongue.

At the World Cup two years ago, they joked that Griezmann was the only Spaniard left in the competition after Spain exited at the group stage.

But Griezmann can handle the jibes about his apparent conflict of nationality. After all, it would appear he has taken the best of the traits from both of those proud footballing nations.

For those of us in England, we can only hope to one day enjoy a share.

Griezmann wheels away in celebration after scoring the crucial away goal for Atletico Madrid on Tuesday