Antoine Griezmann Announces Shocking International Retirement

In shocking news today, the Atlético de Madrid and France centre forward announced that he would be officially retiring from international football. He ends his national team career with 137 senior team caps, 44 goals and 38 assists. Let’s have a look back at his biggest and greatest moments in a France jersey.

C’est avec le cœur plein de souvenirs que je clos ce chapitre de ma vie. Merci pour cette magnifique aventure tricolore et à bientôt. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/qpw8dvdtFt

— Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) September 30, 2024

Euro 2016

As part of the hosting nation, Griezmann and the rest of the French side competed in their home cities in an effort to achieve European glory once more and they were very close to doing so, making it all the way to the Final. There is no doubt that they wouldn’t have made it all that way without Antoine Griezmann. This was the peak of his stardom for not just his “Hotline Bling” celebration but also his phenomenal season. That year he played 54 games across La Liga, Copa Del Ray and the UEFA Champions League for Atlético Madrid. He found the back of the net 32 times and provided 7 assists, his best ever season.

Griezmann, ¡nombrado Jugador de la #EURO2016 !

Sus 6 goles y 2 asistencias le avalan como el hombre más destacado. pic.twitter.com/zdEbBjJiRw

— LALIGA (@LaLiga) July 11, 2016

The goals and assists didn’t just stop there. For France he featured in all seven Euro 2016 games including every single minute of the last four games, the 120 minutes of the Final as well. Those seven games left Griezmann with six goals and two assists. There was no one better than him in that period besides the obvious calls of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as proven by his Euro 2016 Golden Boot, Euro 2016 Player of the Tournament and his third place spot in the Balon D’Or that year.

World Cup Winner

It doesn’t get much better for any player that is lucky enough to get a call up to their national team to win the illustrious FIFA World Cup, but that was something that Antoine Griezmann managed to achieve in his Les Blues career. Once again, like Euro 2016, he turned next level in this tournament. Appearing in 49 matches for Atléti that year, he came into the competition with 29 goals and 17 assists under his belt, less than when went into last major international tournament.

⭐️⭐️#FRA

France have won the 2018 FIFA #WorldCup in Moscow! #FRACRO // #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/fZhmJmxjVh

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

That didn’t matter for him as he transcended expectations. Across all seven games in the 2018 World Cup, the Frenchman ended the tournament with eight goal contributions, four and four for goals and assists. He hit the same numbers as Euro 2016 but this time he left with the trophy as well. France’s name forever etched into history as the 2018 winners’ curtesy of Antoine and his goal and two assists in the Final versus Croatia.

A Thank You From Fans

Griezmann has been flooded with thankyous and farewell wishes today, just proving how special he was to the French people. He delivered when it mattered and always did so with a smile on his face. He is deserved of the praise he is receiving and has wrapped up an amazing career to now focus domestically and with club football. It will be a shame to no longer see him on the international stage even the ages that some players are still able to play at.

🇫🇷✨ Antoine Griezmann’s international career:

- 1 World Cup
- 1 UEFA Nations League
- 1 EUROs top scorer
- 2 World Cup finals
- 1 Euro final
- 137 games
- 44 goals
- 38 assists
- Most assists in France history
- Fourth top scorer in France history

Legend of the game. pic.twitter.com/d6P5SiSz0Q

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) September 30, 2024