Antoine Griezmann is one of those players who seem made for football. With a sharp game vision, precise dribbles, and a goal-scoring instinct that defies the years, the 34-year-old Frenchman continues to shine on the pitches. Born in Mâcon, in the heart of France, Griezmann is not just a scorer, but a true maestro on the field, capable of creating plays out of nothing and deciding matches with a touch of class. His trajectory, full of ups and downs, reflects the passion he carries for the sport. In a world where European football renews itself every season, Griezmann remains a reference for dedication and pure talent. Let’s dive into the story of this star who, even at 34, dreams of new horizons.
The First Steps: From Mâcon to the Youth Academies
It all began in a small French town called Mâcon, on March 21, 1991. The son of Alain, a former amateur player with Germanic roots, and Isabelle, of Portuguese descent—with a grandfather who played for Paços de Ferreira—Griezmann grew up in an environment where football was more than a game: it was family. Vacations in Portugal at his grandparents’ house planted the seeds of love for the sport. But the initial path wasn’t easy. At the local club UF Mâcon, the skinny and light boy faced rejections. Clubs like Metz and Lyon turned him away because of his stature. “I was too small,” he recalls in old interviews, with a smile that hides his determination.
The turning point came at age 14. In a friendly against the Paris Saint-Germain juniors, Griezmann caught the eye of Real Sociedad scouts. The family took a risk: they moved to San Sebastián, Spain, where he joined the Basque academy. There, far from home, the boy transformed. He learned Spanish, absorbed the local culture, and above all, refined his game. “Real Sociedad gave me wings,” he once said. From the youth team to the senior squad, it was a quick leap. In 2009, at 18, he debuted in Spain’s Segunda División. His speed, peripheral vision, and placed finishes began to emerge. In the 2009-10 season, he helped the team win the division title, scoring six goals in 37 games. It was the harbinger of a talent that would soon explode in the elite.
Rise at Real Sociedad: The Birth of a Star
Real Sociedad, with its passionate fans and the boiling Anoeta stadium, was the perfect crucible for Griezmann to forge his style. In La Liga, starting in 2010, he evolved from prospect to key piece. He played as a left winger, but his versatility allowed him to float across the attack, confusing defenses. Over five years (2010-2014), he accumulated 201 matches and 52 goals—impressive numbers for a 23-year-old.
Iconic moments defined this phase. In 2013, a hat-trick against Celta de Vigo put him on the map. But it was the volley goal against Athletic Bilbao in the 2014 Basque derby that sealed his farewell to the club. The txuri-urdin fans, as the Sociedad supporters are called, still mourn his departure. Offers poured in: Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Manchester United, Arsenal. In the end, Atlético de Madrid, coached by Diego Simeone, won the race for 30 million euros. Griezmann left with a heavy heart, but ready for the big stage. “San Sebastián taught me to be a man,” he confided years later. This stage shaped not only his football but his character: humble, resilient, and always grateful.
The Colchonero Heart: Glories and Challenges at Atlético de Madrid
Arriving at Atlético in 2014 was like entering a demanding family. Simeone, the Cholo, saw in Griezmann the ideal partner for Álvaro Morata and company. In his debut, against Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa, he scored and lifted the trophy—the first of many. In the 2014-15 season, 22 goals in 54 games. But the peak came in 2018: the UEFA Europa League, with a brace in the final against Olympique de Marseille (3-0). The UEFA and Spanish Supercopas completed the cycle. Griezmann became an idol, with his rochiblanca grit—the warrior soul of the club.
In 2019, however, came the controversy. After a months-long saga, he signed with Barcelona for 120 million euros, the fifth-largest transfer in history at the time. The farewell to Atlético was bitter; fans felt betrayed. At Barça, alongside Messi and Suárez, the world was expected. But things didn’t flow. 35 goals in 103 games, a Copa del Rey title in 2021, but criticism for not fitting into Koeman and Xavi’s schemes. Griezmann, always elegant, admitted: “It wasn’t the right place for me.” In 2021, his return to Atlético on loan—and subsequent purchase for 20 million—was like a reunion of soulmates. Today, with a contract until 2027, he is the club’s all-time leading scorer: 197 goals, surpassing Luis Aragonés in 2024. His partnership with Simeone yielded magical moments, like the goal against Real Madrid in the 2024 Supercopa, which crowned him as the record holder.
The French National Team: From Runner-Up to World Champion
For France, Griezmann is synonymous with consistency. He debuted in 2014 against the Netherlands, in a friendly mixing talent and pressure. At the 2014 World Cup, he was a substitute, but at Euro 2016, he exploded: six goals, Golden Boot, and runner-up after a final loss to Portugal. “It was painful, but it strengthened me,” he said. The peak? The 2018 World Cup. In Deschamps’ France, he scored four goals, including in the final against Croatia (4-2), and took home the Bronze Ball. World champion at 27—the dream of any boy from Mâcon.
The 2021 Nations League and the 2022 World Cup runner-up, with a missed penalty in the shootout against Argentina, completed a cycle of glories and lessons. In September 2024, after 137 games and 44 goals, Griezmann retired from the national team. “I left everything on the field,” he declared in an emotional press conference. His absence leaves a void, but his legacy—Olympic gold in the youth ranks in 2010 and leadership in majors—is eternal.
Life Off the Field: Family, Controversies, and Passions
Griezmann is more than football. Married since 2017 to Erika Choperena, a child psychologist, the couple has three children: Mia (2016), Amaro (2019), and Alba (2021). Family is his safe harbor; Erika, Colombian, brings balance to the star’s hectic life. Off the four lines, he is a fan of video games—FIFA is his vice—mangas like One Piece, and basketball, influenced by his friendship with Tony Parker.
Not everything was perfect. In 2017, a blackface photo as a tribute to the Harlem Globetrotters sparked controversy. Griezmann issued a public apology: “I didn’t mean to offend anyone; I learned from the mistake.” His sister Maude survived the 2015 Bataclan attacks, which marked him deeply. Today, he uses his voice for social causes, like inclusion in sports. Nicknames like “Little Prince” or “Grizi” capture his essence: charming, but grounded.
The Current Moment: Renewal, Goals, and American Dreams
In December 2025, Griezmann is living a transition phase at Atlético. At 34, he renewed until 2027 in June, but with a reduced salary to help the club’s finances under La Liga rules. The 2024-25 season ended with an 18-game goal drought, overshadowed by Julian Álvarez (17 goals) and Alexander Sørloth (20). But the Frenchman responded: in September 2025, he scored the first goal of the 2025-26 season in stoppage time against Real Madrid (5-2), ending a 22-match dry spell and handing the rivals their worst derby loss since 1950. Three days later, his 200th goal for Atlético came against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League (5-1).
In March, he surpassed Messi as the foreigner with the most La Liga games (521). Recently, he came off the bench against Levante, scoring two goals in a 3-1 comeback. Against Inter Milan in the Champions League, he was on the bench, but his mentality impresses: “I have to be professional and an example for my teammates,” he said in November.
Rumors of departure swirl. Griezmann dreams of the MLS: “It’s my goal, but I’m under contract and want more trophies here.” Speculation links him to an “unexpected club” to reunite with former teammates, but he focuses on the present. With 53 games in the last season (16 goals, 9 assists), Griezmann proves that age is just a number. Atlético prepares for the Club World Cup in the US, and he, always smiling, assures: “I’ll give everything on the field.”
Eternal Legacy: Why Griezmann Still Captivates
Antoine Griezmann transcends statistics. His 262 goals in 672 club games, the World Cups, the versatility from winger to false 9—all this places him among the greats. But it’s the heart that wins over: loyalty to Atlético, humility after mistakes, family as an anchor. In a football world of inflated egos, he is the perfect anti-hero—the guy who runs, smiles, and delivers. At 34, with MLS on the horizon, Griezmann reminds us: football is about moments, not endings. And his, still under construction, promise more glorious pages.
