Turning professional was not an easy journey for Antoine Griezmann. Born in Mâcon, France, on March 21, 1991, the French star faced early setbacks as several French football academies rejected him before he found an unexpected home in Spain.
Atlético Madrid's record goalscorer in La Liga
Despite being deemed too small for French youth academies, Griezmann's fortunes changed when Spain's Real Sociedad scouted him at the age of 13. He relocated to the Basque country, balancing French school in the border town of Bayonne with rigorous football training in Spain.
The Frenchman made his professional debut for Real Sociedad in 2010 and played regularly in La Liga in the following seasons. His speed, agility, and skill caught the attention of top European clubs, and in 2014, he moved to Atlético Madrid.
He enjoyed a highly successful spell in the Spanish capital under coach Diego Simeone, during two spells, winning the Spanish Supercup, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Super Cup. The French star gained legendary status with the Rojiblancos, becoming their record goalscorer in January 2024 after netting his 174th goal for the club.
In 2018, he starred in his brief documentary "La Decisión", inspired by LeBron James, where he initially pledged his long-term future to Atlético Madrid. However, his journey took another turn when he joined FC Barcelona the following season to end a first five years in the Spanish capital. But his time in Catalonia didn't replicate his earlier successes, forcing a return to Atlético in 2021, where he signed a permanent deal until 2026.
Antoine Griezmann's international career
Griezmann's impact extends beyond his club career, as he has been a vital part of the French national team over the years, even though this story started badly. In 2012, the Frenchman was suspended for 13 months for leaving the French national under-21 team camp to spend a night in a Paris nightclub with teammates, leading to their failure to qualify for a European championship.
After his suspension, Griezmann made his senior debut for the French national team in 2014. Two years later, he was named the best player and top goalscorer of UEFA Euro 2016, where France reached the final but lost to Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. That year, he finished on the Ballon d'Or podium behind the Portuguese and Lionel Messi. His biggest success came two years later when France lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with the Atlético star amongst the star players with Kylian Mbappé.
Griezmann's aspirations extend to the Olympics, where he dreams of adding a gold medal to his trophy collection in Paris 2024 with the opportunity to represent France on home soil.
"It would be one of my sweetest dreams. You imagine, wearing the jersey of the France team, in Paris, at the Olympic Games, for a global meeting … It gives me chills, " he told the French newspaper Le Figaro.
Antoine Griezmann's stats and wins
French national team
- 1x FIFA World Cup Winner (2018)
- 1x UEFA European Under 19 Champion (2010)
- 1x UEFA Nations League Winner (2021)
- 1x UEFA Euro Top Scorer (2016)
- 1x UEFA Player of the Tournament (2016)
Club career
- 1x UEFA Europa League Winner (2018, Atlético Madrid)
- 1x Spanish Cup Winner (2021, Barcelona)
- 1x Spanish Supercup Winner (2015, Atlético Madrid)
- 1x UEFA Super Cup Winner (2019, Atlético Madrid)
- 1x Spanish Second Tier Champion (2010, Real Sociedad)
