History of Antoine Griezmann in Timeline
Antoine Griezmann is a highly regarded French professional footballer. He plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Atlético Madrid in La Liga. Griezmann is recognized for his versatility on the field, his intelligence during matches, his offensive capabilities, and his contributions even when not directly involved in scoring plays. He is considered among the best players of his generation.
1957: Amaro Lopes Moves to France
In 1957, Amaro Lopes, Griezmann's grandfather, moved from Portugal to France with his wife to work in construction.
March 1991: Antoine Griezmann's Birth in Mâcon
In March 1991, Antoine Griezmann was born in Mâcon, France, to Alain Griezmann and Isabelle Lopes.
1992: Death of Grandfather Amaro Lopes
In 1992, Griezmann's grandfather, Amaro Lopes, passed away when Antoine was an infant.
2003: Real Sociedad's Last Champions League Qualification
In 2003, before Griezmann's goal in 2012, was the last time Real Sociedad had qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
2005: Trial with Real Sociedad
In 2005, Griezmann impressed scouts from Real Sociedad during a trial with Montpellier, leading to an offer to join their youth academy.
September 2009: Competitive Debut for Real Sociedad
In September 2009, Antoine Griezmann made his competitive debut for Real Sociedad in a Copa del Rey match against Rayo Vallecano. Also in September 2009, he scored his first professional goal against Huesca.
November 2009: Scoring Streak in November 2009
In November 2009, Griezmann scored in back-to-back matches against Hércules and Recreativo de Huelva, contributing significantly to Real Sociedad's campaign.
2009: Pre-Season Debut with Real Sociedad
In 2009, Griezmann was called up for Real Sociedad's pre-season campaign and impressed, leading to his selection for the start of the season.
February 2010: Named to France Under-19 Team
On February 23, 2010, Griezmann was named to the France under-19 team, marking his entry into youth international football.
April 2010: Signs First Professional Contract
On April 8, 2010, Antoine Griezmann signed his first professional contract with Real Sociedad, committing to a five-year deal with the club.
August 2010: La Liga Debut
In August 2010, Antoine Griezmann made his La Liga debut, marking the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
September 2010: Called up to France U-20 Team
In September 2010, Griezmann was called up to the France under-20 team, but was later sent home due to injury.
November 2010: Goal Against Hércules
In November 2010, Griezmann scored the only goal in Real Sociedad's 2-1 loss to Hércules.
June 2011: Named to U-20 World Cup Squad
On June 10, 2011, Griezmann was named to the 21-man squad to participate in the U-20 World Cup.
July 2011: Debut in U-20 World Cup
On July 30, 2011, Griezmann made his debut in the U-20 World Cup in a match against Colombia.
2011: Equalizing Goal Against Barcelona
In 2011, Antoine Griezmann scored the equalizing goal in a 2–2 draw against defending champions Barcelona.
2011: Relationship with Erika Choperena Began
In 2011, Griezmann started a relationship with Erika Choperena.
2012: Goal Securing Champions League Qualification
In 2012, Antoine Griezmann scored the decisive goal against Deportivo La Coruña, securing Real Sociedad's qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2003.
January 2014: Goal in Basque Derby
In January 2014, Griezmann scored a volley against Athletic Bilbao in a Basque derby league match, contributing to a 2–0 victory for Real Sociedad.
February 2014: First Call-Up to France's Senior Squad
On February 27, 2014, Griezmann received his first call-up to the France senior squad.
July 2014: Transfer Agreement with Atlético Madrid
On 28 July 2014, Atlético Madrid reached an agreement with Real Sociedad for the transfer of Griezmann, for a fee believed to be close to his €30 million buy-out clause. He signed a six-year contract on 29 July 2014.
December 2014: First La Liga Hat-Trick
On 21 December 2014, Griezmann scored his first La Liga hat-trick as Atlético won 4–1 at Athletic Bilbao.
2014: Joins Atlético Madrid
In 2014, Antoine Griezmann joined Atlético Madrid for a then-club record of €30 million, marking a significant step in his club career.
2014: Senior Debut for France
In 2014, Griezmann made his senior debut for the French national team, marking his entry into international football at the highest level.
January 2015: La Liga Player of the Month
In January 2015, Griezmann was named La Liga Player of the Month.
April 2015: Goal Against Real Sociedad
On 7 April 2015, Griezmann scored against Real Sociedad in a 2–0 victory.
August 2015: Goal Against Las Palmas
On 22 August 2015, Griezmann scored the only goal as Atlético began the season with a home victory over promoted Las Palmas.
November 2015: Sister Survivor of Bataclan Attack
In November 2015, during the Paris attacks, Griezmann's sister survived the siege of the Bataclan theatre while he was playing against Germany, with an explosion also occurring at the Stade de France.
2015: Last Barcelona Player Before Griezmann to Score Champions League Away Goal (Non-Messi)
Before Griezmann in February 2020, the last Barcelona player other than Messi to score a Champions League away goal in the knockout stage was in 2015.
2015: Contract with Real Sociedad
In 2015, Griezmann ended his five-year deal with Real Sociedad after signing his first professional contract with the club on April 8, 2010.
February 2016: Goal Against Real Madrid
On 27 February 2016, Griezmann scored the only goal as Atlético won away to Real Madrid.
April 2016: Birth of First Child
In April 2016, Griezmann and Erika Choperena welcomed their first child, a daughter.
June 2016: New Contract with Atlético
On 23 June 2016, Griezmann signed a new contract with Atlético, keeping him at the club until 2021.
November 2016: Champions League Goals Against Rostov
In November 2016, Griezmann scored both of Atlético's goals in their 2-1 win against Rostov, securing their progression to the Champions League round of 16.
December 2016: Third Place in Ballon d'Or Ranking
In December 2016, Antoine Griezmann ranked third in the Ballon d'Or ranking, recognizing his achievements in football.
2016: Speculation of Departure from Atlético Madrid
After the 2016-17 season, there was speculation that he could leave Atlético for Manchester United, but he extended his contract after learning that Atlético was given a transfer ban.
2016: Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player Nominations
In 2016, Antoine Griezmann received nominations for both the Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player awards, acknowledging his exceptional performances.
2016: FIFA 16 Cover Appearance
In 2016, Griezmann appeared on the cover of the French edition of FIFA 16 alongside Lionel Messi, selected by public vote. Griezmann also featured in advertisements for Beats Electronics headphones ahead of Euro 2016.
2016: Named Best Player of Euro 2016
In 2016, Griezmann was named the best player of Euro 2016 by UEFA, with Ioan Lupescu highlighting his hard work, technique, vision, and finishing ability. Also in 2016, despite Griezmann's club form for Barcelona remaining sub-par, Didier Deschamps labeled him "one of the greatest players of all-time".
2016: Puma Commercial
In 2016, Griezmann's 'Hotline Bling' goal celebration featured in a Puma commercial.
April 2017: 100 La Liga Goals
On 22 April 2017, Griezmann scored the only goal in a win against Espanyol, becoming the second Frenchman after Karim Benzema to score 100 La Liga goals.
June 2017: Contract Extension with Atlético Madrid
In June 2017, Antoine Griezmann extended his contract with Atlético Madrid by one year, committing his future to the club.
June 2017: Marriage to Erika Choperena
On June 15, 2017, Griezmann married Erika Choperena, a Spanish native of the Basque Country.
August 2017: First Red Card
In August 2017, Griezmann received his first red card during a match against Girona.
December 2017: Puma Unveils Custom Football Boots
In December 2017, Puma unveiled Griezmann's custom-made football boots, the PUMA Future 18.1 "Grizi".
December 2017: Blackface Controversy
On December 17, 2017, Griezmann faced controversy for sharing a photo on social media of himself in blackface dressed as a Harlem Globetrotter. He later deleted the posts and apologized.
2017: Brand Ambassador for Huawei
In 2017, Griezmann became a global brand ambassador for Chinese technology company Huawei.
February 2018: La Liga Player of the Month
In February 2018, Griezmann was named La Liga Player of the Month after scoring eight goals and providing two assists during the period.
June 2018: Griezmann Extends Contract with Atlético Madrid
In June 2018, Griezmann signed a contract extension with Atlético Madrid until 2023, rejecting a move to Barcelona days after the speculation.
2018: Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player Nominations
In 2018, Antoine Griezmann received nominations for both the Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player awards, acknowledging his exceptional performances.
2018: UEFA Super Cup Win and Champions League Goals
In 2018, Griezmann started in Atlético's 4–2 extra-time win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup. He also scored key goals in the Champions League, including against Club Brugge and Monaco.
April 2019: Birth of Second Child
In April 2019, Griezmann and his wife had their second child.
May 2019: Griezmann Announces Departure from Atlético Madrid
In May 2019, Griezmann announced his departure from Atlético Madrid after five seasons, amid strong links to Barcelona.
July 2019: Griezmann Signs with Barcelona and Controversy Arises
On July 12, 2019, Barcelona announced the signing of Griezmann. However, Atlético Madrid disputed the deal, claiming the fee paid was too low, leading to a complaint and defacement of Griezmann's plaque.
August 2019: Griezmann Debuts and Scores for Barcelona
On August 16, 2019, Griezmann debuted for Barcelona. On August 25, 2019, he scored a brace in his home debut against Real Betis.
2019: Signs for Barcelona
In 2019, Griezmann was transferred to Barcelona for €120 million, making him one of the most expensive players in football history.
2019: Documentary Film Release
In 2019, the documentary film "Antoine Griezmann: The Making of a Legend," which depicted the player's career, was released.
January 2020: Launched Grizi Esport
In January 2020, Griezmann launched the esports organisation, Grizi Esport.
February 2020: Champions League Goal Against Napoli
On February 25, 2020, Griezmann scored Barcelona's equaliser against Napoli in the Champions League, marking a milestone as the first Barcelona player other than Messi to score a Champions League away goal in the knockout stage since 2015.
November 2020: First Goal of the 2020-21 Season
On November 1, 2020, Griezmann scored his first goal of the 2020–21 season in a match against Alavés.
December 2020: Cuts Ties with Huawei
In December 2020, Griezmann ended his partnership with Huawei due to suspicions about their involvement in developing a 'Uighur alert' using facial recognition software.
2020: Father Becomes UF Mâconnais President
In 2020, Griezmann's father became the president of UF Mâconnais, the club where Griezmann played during his youth.
January 2021: Supercopa de España Final and Copa del Rey Performance
In January 2021, Griezmann scored a brace in the Supercopa de España final against Athletic Bilbao. On February 3, Griezmann played a crucial role in the Copa del Rey against Granada.
April 2021: Birth of Third Child
In April 2021, Griezmann and his wife celebrated the birth of their third child, a daughter, remarkably sharing the same birthday as her siblings.
June 2021: Brand Ambassador for Yu-Gi-Oh!
On June 6, 2021, Griezmann became the brand ambassador for Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card games.
July 2021: Yu-Gi-Oh! Contract Terminated
In July 2021, following a video surfacing online showing Griezmann laughing at derogatory racial comments made by teammate Ousmane Dembélé, Konami terminated Griezmann's contract as the brand ambassador for Yu-Gi-Oh!.
July 2021: Video Footage of Dembele's Derogatory Comments
In July 2021, video footage surfaced online of Griezmann and Ousmane Dembélé, where Dembélé made derogatory racial comments against Japanese technicians, and Griezmann was seen laughing. Griezmann apologized but denied accusations of racism.
August 2021: Griezmann Returns to Atlético Madrid on Loan
On August 31, 2021, Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid on a one-year loan with an option for another year and a conditional permanent transfer clause.
October 2021: Grizi Esport Pauses Activities
On October 11, 2021, Grizi Esport announced that the organisation would "Stop momentarily with all of their Esports-related activities."
2021: Returns to Atlético Madrid
In 2021, Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid, marking a reunion with his former club.
2021: Contract with Atlético
On 23 June 2016, Griezmann signed a new contract with Atlético, keeping him at the club until 2021.
September 2022: Champions League Winning Goal Against Porto
On September 7, 2022, Griezmann scored a late winning goal against Porto in the Champions League.
October 2022: Atlético Madrid Agrees to Transfer Griezmann
On October 10, 2022, Atlético Madrid reached an agreement with Barcelona to transfer Griezmann for a reported fee of €20 million.
December 2022: Grizi Esport Status Update
As of December 2022, Grizi Esport had not provided any updates regarding the future of the organization.
2022: FIFA World Cup Appearance
At the 2022 World Cup, Griezmann played as a central midfielder as France finished runners-up.
2022: Deeper Role for France
Since the 2022 World Cup, Griezmann has been utilized in a deeper, central midfielder role by France's national team manager, Deschamps.
December 2023: Equaled Atlético Madrid's All-Time Scoring Record
On December 19, 2023, Griezmann scored twice against Getafe, equalling Luis Aragonés' record of 173 goals for Atlético Madrid.
2023: Contract Until 2023
Griezmann's contract extension signed in June 2018 was set to run until 2023 with Atlético Madrid.
2023: Conditional Permanent Transfer Clause by 2023
Griezmann's one-year loan back to Atletico Madrid in August 2021 had a conditional permanent transfer clause to be activated by 2023.
January 2024: Became Atlético's All-Time Leading Scorer
On January 10, 2024, Griezmann became Atlético's all-time leading scorer with a goal against Real Madrid.
March 2024: End of 84-Game Streak with France
In March 2024, Griezmann's record 84-game streak with France ended due to an ankle injury.
September 2024: Retirement from International Football
In September 2024, Griezmann declared his retirement from international football, marking the end of his career representing his country.
2024: Retirement from International Football
In 2024, Griezmann retired from international football.
January 2025: Partnership with Decathlon
In January 2025, Griezmann partnered with the French brand Decathlon, ending his 14 year partnership with Puma.
June 2026: Contract until June 2026
Griezmann signed a contract until June 2026 upon his transfer to Atletico Madrid.
