Antoine Griezmann is a highly regarded French footballer known for his versatility and skill. He plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for both Atlético Madrid and the French national team. His exceptional abilities on and off the ball have cemented his place as one of the world's top players.
Antoine Griezmann was born in March 1991 in Mâcon, France.
Antoine Griezmann was born in March 1991 in Mâcon, France, to a family with German and Portuguese roots.
Antoine Griezmann's maternal grandfather, Amaro Lopes, a Portuguese footballer, passed away in 1992.
In 2005, Griezmann impressed scouts from Real Sociedad during a trial match and subsequently joined the club's youth academy in San Sebastián, Spain.
Griezmann made his competitive debut for Real Sociedad in September 2009 in a Copa del Rey match and scored his first professional goal later that month.
Griezmann scored in consecutive matches for Real Sociedad, including the only goal in a victory against Recreativo de Huelva.
After four years in the youth system, Griezmann made his senior debut for Real Sociedad during the 2009-10 pre-season.
After gaining recognition for his performances with Real Sociedad, Griezmann was selected to play for the France under-19 team in February 2010.
Griezmann signed his first professional contract with Real Sociedad in April 2010, a five-year deal.
Griezmann made his La Liga debut in August 2010, fulfilling a childhood dream.
Griezmann received his first call-up to the French under-20 team in September 2010, but a thigh injury during training unfortunately cut his time short, and he was sent home.
Griezmann continued his goal-scoring form for Real Sociedad, netting crucial goals in several matches.
Griezmann was part of the French team that won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
In February 2011, Griezmann finally made his debut with the French under-20 team during a victory against England.
Griezmann was chosen as part of the 21-man squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in June 2011.
Antoine Griezmann began dating Erika Choperena in 2011.
Despite being eligible for the under-20 team, Griezmann received a call-up to the French under-21 team in 2011, stepping in for the injured Gabriel Obertan.
Griezmann scored a crucial equalizing goal against defending champions Barcelona in a league match.
Griezmann's goal in the final league match of the 2012–13 season against Deportivo La Coruña secured Champions League qualification for Real Sociedad for the first time since 2003–04.
Griezmann scored vital goals for Real Sociedad, including a volley against Lyon in the Champions League qualifying round and another volley against Athletic Bilbao in a Basque derby.
In February 2014, Antoine Griezmann received his first call-up to the French national team for a friendly against the Netherlands.
In July 2014, Antoine Griezmann transferred from Real Sociedad to Atlético Madrid for a fee close to his €30 million buy-out clause. He signed a six-year contract and made his debut in the Supercopa de España against Real Madrid.
On December 21, 2014, Griezmann scored his first La Liga hat-trick in a 4-1 win against Athletic Bilbao, contributing significantly to Atlético Madrid's victory.
Griezmann made his senior international debut for France.
Griezmann joined Atlético Madrid for a then-club record fee.
Griezmann was awarded the La Liga Player of the Month in January 2015 for his impressive performance, despite only playing in three of Atlético's five matches.
In April 2015, Griezmann scored against his former team, Real Sociedad, but chose to keep his celebration minimal out of respect. Later that month, he scored a brace against Elche, surpassing Karim Benzema for the most goals by a French player in a Spanish top-division campaign.
Griezmann kicked off the 2015 season by scoring the only goal in Atlético Madrid's home victory against Las Palmas.
Tragically, during the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, Antoine Griezmann's sister was present at the Bataclan theater but fortunately survived the siege.
Griezmann extended his contract with Real Sociedad.
Griezmann scored the only goal in Atlético Madrid's away win against rivals Real Madrid in February 2016.
Antoine Griezmann and Erika Choperena welcomed their first child, a daughter, in April 2016.
In June 2016, Griezmann committed to a new contract with Atlético Madrid, extending his stay with the club until 2021.
Griezmann was instrumental in Atlético Madrid's 2-1 victory over Rostov in the Champions League Group D match in November 2016. He scored both goals, securing their advancement to the round of 16.
Griezmann achieved a commendable third place in the prestigious Ballon d'Or ranking in December 2016, finishing behind Cristiano Ronaldo, the winner, and Lionel Messi.
Griezmann was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player awards.
Following a season without any trophies in 2016, there was growing speculation that Griezmann might leave Atlético Madrid. However, he chose to stay with the club.
Antoine Griezmann was selected through a public vote to appear alongside Lionel Messi on the cover of the French edition of the video game FIFA 16. That same year, in the lead-up to Euro 2016, he was featured in advertisements for Beats Electronics headphones.
Antoine Griezmann secured a sponsorship deal with the sportswear brand Puma and appeared in a 2016 commercial for the company featuring his signature 'Hotline Bling' goal celebration.
Griezmann scored the decisive goal in Atlético Madrid's win over Espanyol in April 2017, making him the second Frenchman, after Karim Benzema, to achieve 100 goals in La Liga.
Antoine Griezmann married his long-time girlfriend, Erika Choperena, in June 2017.
Despite rumors of a potential move to Manchester United, Griezmann extended his contract with Atlético Madrid by a year in June 2017. This decision came after Atlético was issued a transfer ban, preventing them from signing a replacement.
In August 2017, during a draw against Girona, Griezmann received his first-ever red card. Initially booked for diving, his subsequent use of foul language towards the referee resulted in a second yellow card and a two-match ban.
In December 2017, Griezmann faced criticism for posting a photo of himself in blackface, dressed as a Harlem Globetrotter. He later apologized, acknowledging the offense caused.
In December 2017, PUMA launched a special edition of football boots, the PUMA Future 18.1 "Grizi," designed specifically for and in collaboration with Antoine Griezmann.
In 2017, Griezmann played a crucial role in Atlético Madrid's journey to victory in the UEFA Europa League. He scored in the semi-final against Arsenal and then netted two goals in the final against Marseille, securing the trophy for his club.
Antoine Griezmann became a global brand ambassador for the Chinese tech giant Huawei in 2017.
Griezmann's remarkable performance in February 2018, which included eight goals and two assists, earned him the La Liga Player of the Month award. During this period, he also scored his 100th goal for Atlético Madrid, becoming only the third player in the 21st century to reach this milestone.
Despite intense speculation and a tempting offer from Barcelona, Griezmann chose to stay with Atlético Madrid, signing a contract extension until 2023. He publicly expressed his commitment to the club, referring to it as his home.
Griezmann started the 2018 season strong, playing a key role in Atlético Madrid's victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup. He continued his impressive form in the Champions League, scoring crucial goals against Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund, and Monaco. His contributions helped secure Atlético Madrid's qualification for the next round of the competition.
Griezmann received his second nomination for the Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player awards.
Antoine Griezmann was a strong contender for the Ballon D'or award in 2018, finishing second to Luka Modric. Some argued he was more deserving of the title.
Antoine Griezmann and Erika Choperena had their second child in April 2019.
In May 2019, after much speculation and links to Barcelona, Griezmann announced his decision to leave Atlético Madrid after five seasons. Barcelona's reported intention to meet his €120 million buy-out clause signaled a potential transfer.
In July 2019, Barcelona signed Griezmann to a five-year contract after triggering his €120 million release clause. However, Atlético Madrid contested the transfer, arguing that Griezmann had agreed to the move before his release clause decreased from €200 million. Despite the dispute and fan backlash, the transfer was ultimately upheld.
Griezmann debuted for Barcelona in August 2019, and although their first match ended in defeat, he quickly found his stride. He scored two goals and provided an assist in his home debut, securing a win against Real Betis.
A documentary film titled "Antoine Griezmann: The Making of a Legend," chronicling Griezmann's journey in football, was released in 2019.
Griezmann made a record transfer to Barcelona, becoming one of the most expensive players in football history.
In February 2020, Griezmann became the first Barcelona player besides Lionel Messi to score a Champions League away goal in the knockout stage since 2015. This occurred during a draw against Napoli where he secured the equalizing goal.
Griezmann scored his first goal of the 2020-21 season in November 2020 during an away draw against Alavés.
Antoine Griezmann ended his brand ambassadorship with Huawei, citing ethical concerns related to the company's alleged involvement in surveillance technology.
In 2020, Antoine Griezmann's father assumed the role of president at UF Mâconnais, the club where Griezmann played during his youth.
Griezmann scored twice in the 2021 Supercopa de España final in January 2021, though Barcelona ultimately lost the match against Athletic Bilbao.
Antoine Griezmann and Erika Choperena became parents for the third time in April 2021, welcoming another daughter, remarkably, all three of their children share the same birthday.
Antoine Griezmann became a brand ambassador for Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game in June 2021.
Griezmann faced backlash in July 2021 when a video surfaced of him laughing at teammate Ousmane Dembélé making racist comments towards Japanese technicians. Griezmann apologized but denied personal racism.
Following the emergence of a controversial video, Konami, the company behind Yu-Gi-Oh!, terminated its ambassadorship agreement with Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid on loan in August 2021 with options to extend and a permanent transfer clause active until 2023.
Grizi Esport announced a pause on all its esports activities in October 2021, with no updates on its future as of December 2022.
Griezmann's contract extension in 2016 was set to keep him at Atlético Madrid until 2021, showcasing his commitment to the club.
Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid after his stint with Barcelona.
In September 2022, Griezmann scored a decisive goal in the 90+11th minute, securing a 2-1 victory for Atlético Madrid against Porto in the Champions League group stage.
Griezmann's transfer to Atlético Madrid from Barcelona was made permanent in October 2022 for a reported €20 million. He signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until June 2026.
As of December 2022, Grizi Esport, the esports organization founded by Antoine Griezmann, remained inactive with no updates on its future.
Griezmann scored two goals against Getafe in December 2023, bringing his total goals for Atlético Madrid to 173, matching the record set by club legend Luis Aragonés.
Griezmann's contract extension in June 2018 solidified his commitment to Atlético Madrid, extending his stay with the club until 2023.
Griezmann scored against Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España in January 2024, surpassing Luis Aragonés to become Atlético Madrid's all-time leading scorer.
Griezmann's contract with Atlético Madrid is set to end in June 2026.