Antoine Griezmann

A French footballer who won the 2018 World Cup and is regarded as an Atlético Madrid legend, he is a forward.

Antoine Griezmann

Overview

Antoine Griezmann (앙투안 그리즈만) is a footballer born on March 21, 1991, in Mâcon, France, whose main positions are second striker, attacking midfielder, and winger. He was a key figure in France's 2018 FIFA World Cup victory and is Atlético Madrid's all-time leading scorer; he is regarded for excellent football intelligence, work rate, and finishing rather than flashy individual skills. He is considered a rare type of forward capable of performing both the 'joker' and 'ace' roles for club and national team alike.

Main content

Childhood and background

He was born in Mâcon in eastern France to a father of German descent and a mother of Portuguese descent. Because of his small stature, he was rejected in tryouts at several French league clubs, and eventually crossed the border to join the Real Sociedad (레알 소시에다드) youth academy in Spain's Basque Country. During this period he learned Spanish and reshaped his football style, making his La Liga debut in 2009 and establishing himself on the professional stage.

Real Sociedad period

He developed as a left winger at Real Sociedad, appearing in nearly 200 matches over five seasons, and in the 2013-14 season he scored 20 league goals, leading the team to UEFA Champions League qualification. On the strength of this performance, he transferred to Atlético Madrid (아틀레티코 마드리드) in the summer of 2014 and began his big-club career.

First Atlético Madrid spell and Barcelona move

Under manager Diego Simeone (디에고 시메오네), Griezmann transformed into a second striker optimized for strong pressing and quick counterattacks. In the 2015-16 season he scored 22 league goals and led the team to the Champions League final, and at UEFA Euro 2016 he won the tournament's top scorer award and best player award. In 2018 he achieved both UEFA Europa League and World Cup victory, and in the same year placed third in the Ballon d'Or. In the summer of 2019 he transferred to FC Barcelona (FC 바르셀로나) for a fee of €120 million, but due to position overlap and poor form he returned to Atlético in 2021.

Second Atlético spell and records

After his return he established himself as a core part of the team again, and in January 2023 he broke the club's all-time scoring record, held by Luis Aragonés (루이스 아라고네스). Thereafter he steadily increased his appearance count and surpassed the club's all-time appearance record, and even after entering his 30s he maintained top-tier league attacking contributions through intelligent positioning and link-up play.

France national team

Starting with the 2014 Brazil World Cup, he played in major tournaments, and at UEFA Euro 2016, held in his home country, he finished as runner-up and won both the top scorer award and tournament MVP. At the 2018 Russia World Cup he scored four goals, including in the final, contributing to the victory, and he experienced the 2021 UEFA Nations League win and the 2022 Qatar World Cup runner-up finish. With more than 130 caps and over 40 goals for the national team, he is a symbolic figure in French football, and in September 2024 he announced his retirement from the national team.

Playing style and assessment

Left-footed, he is high-level in shooting, passing, and set pieces, and his defensive participation and involvement in forward pressing are very high. His greatest strength from a manager's perspective is his tactical flexibility to be deployed in multiple positions, and he is evaluated as 'the player who best understands what the manager wants.' However, as a lone center-forward he has physical limitations, so his efficiency is maximized when he is used as a second-line or two-striker option rather than as a lone striker.

Recent developments

In the 2024-25 season he has also been active as a key player for Atlético Madrid, solidifying his place among the club's all-time most-appearing players, and he has steadily accumulated attacking contributions in La Liga and the Champions League. In September 2024 he officially announced his retirement from the France national team, ending his national team career, and afterward stated in an interview his determination to 'pour everything into the club.' In 2025, MLS transfer rumors were raised, increasing interest in his late-career destination, while at the same time the possibility of a move into coaching or a club front office after retirement has also been discussed. Outside football, he continues to participate in esports and streaming content, maintaining the nickname 'gamer footballer.'