Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann has announced that he will be retiring from international football, after a ten-year career for France. Writing on X that “it is with a heart full of memories that I am closing this chapter of my life,” Griezmann will be sorely missed by his fans and squad, with France’s current captain Kylian Mbappe writing on Instagram that he “will never forget the honour and pleasure it was to play alongside [him] for so many years,”.
Known for his extraordinary versatility – playing, at various points in his career, as a striker, a winger, and an attacking midfielder – Griezmann is not only one of the most talented but also one of the most iconic footballers. Over the course of his career, he scored 44 goals across 137 appearances for his country, making him the fourth highest goal scorer for France’s national team since 1904. He made his senior debut in 2014 under Didier Deschamps, four years after having won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, and contributed a crucial penalty to France’s 2018 FIFA World Cup victory against Croatia. Also named as the best player of UEFA Euro 2016 after scoring the most goals (six) in a single tournament since 1984, Griezmann’s reputation as one of the most illustrious footballers is well-earned. His accuracy, technical ability, and finishing skills will no doubt continue to distinguish him as one of France’s best footballers, as manager Deschamps noted in his response to Griezmann’s retirement: “Even if his club career is not over, Antoine will remain a monument of French football, one of the greatest players in its history,”.
His announcement comes before France’s next international break on 10 October for the UEFA Nations League. Whilst Griezmann continues to play in La Liga, Les Bleus will undoubtedly look different without his energy and attacking prowess.
“Antoine Griezmann World Cup Trophy” by Антон Зайцев is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.