Top 10 Amazing Facts about Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann playing for the France national team. Photo by Biser Todorov. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann  was born in March 1991. He’s a French professional footballer. He currently plays for La Liga club Atlético Madrid on loan from Barcelona, as well as the France national team.

Griezmann, a versatile player, is known for his attacking, passing, and defensive abilities. Previously he’s played as an attacking midfielder, winger, and striker.

Griezmann started his senior club career with Real Sociedad, where he won the Segunda División in his first season. He joined Atlético Madrid in 2014 for a then-club record €30 million and went on to win the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espaa, and La Liga Best Player.

He was nominated for the Ballon d’Or and Best FIFA Men’s Player awards. Griezmann set a record in association football when he signed for rivals Barcelona for €120 million in 2019, becoming the fifth-most expensive player of all time. 

He won the Copa del Rey there before returning on loan to Atlético Madrid in 2021, There he became the club’s fourth-highest all-time top goalscorer.

1. Griezmann started playing football at a young age

Antoine Griezmann, forward of the French U21 national team. Photo by Julien. Wikimedia Commons

Griezmann’s heroics were especially sweet for the Atletico Madrid forward, who grew up a huge Lyon fan. He even trained with the French team as a kid, but he was never signed because he was too small.

Lyon’s chief scout Gerard Bonneau told the Spanish newspaper, “It was our biggest mistake in years, a historic mistake.”

Griezmann,  joined Real Sociedad at the age of 13 and went on to make over 200 appearances for the Basques before joining Atletico in 2014 for 30 million euros.

Lyon were the recipients of Griezmann’s talents in 2013, when he scored a spectacular overhead volley in a Champions League playoff to advance Sociedad to the group stages.

2. Griezmann idolized his grandfather

He looked up to his grandfather, Amaro Lopes, who was also a professional footballer. Antoine decided to try his luck in football because of his background and history in sports.

Antoine came from a wealthy family and thus did not have to struggle to obtain the necessary football equipment. His father was a well-known, politically powerful man, and his mother worked as a hospital cleaner. He was inspired to practice and work hard as a footballer by French superstar Zinedine Zidane.

3. The birth of Griezmann’s professional career

Griezmann made his competitive debut on September 2, 2009, in the team’s Copa del Rey match against Rayo Vallecano. He came as a substitute in the 77th minute of a 2-0 defeat.

He made his league debut four days later as a substitute against Real Murcia. On September 27, he made his first professional start and scored his first professional goal in a 2-0 win over Huesca. Griezmann scored his second goal of the season two weeks later in a 2-0 win over Salamanca. 

In November 2009, he scored twice in a row against Hércules and Recreativo de Huelva. The only goal of the game came against the latter club. Griezmann was a regular in the team for the rest of the season.

In November 2009, he scored twice in a row against Hércules and Recreativo de Huelva.  The only goal of the game came against the latter club. Griezmann played consistently for the rest of the season, scoring two more goals in victories over Cádiz and Numancia as Real Sociedad earned promotion to La Liga as league winners for the 2010-11 season.

4. Griezmann signed his first contract in 2010

Rémy Cabella and Antoine Griezmann during a friendly match against Armenia. Photo by Xavier Naltchayan. Wikimedia Commons

Griezmann signed his first professional contract on April 8, 2010, agreeing to a five-year deal with the club until 2015, with a €30 million release clause. 

Prior to signing the contract, he was courted by Ligue 1 clubs Lyon, Saint-Étienne, and Auxerre. 

Griezmann made his first-team debut in the Spanish first division on August 29, 2010, in the season’s opening match. He described the occasion as “fulfilling his childhood dream” in a post-game interview.

5. Griezmann played for Atlético Madrid

Antoine Griezmann playing for Atlético Madrid. Photo by DSanchez17. Wikimedia Commons

Griezmann’s transfer to Atlético Madrid was agreed upon with Real Sociedad on July 28, 2014, for a fee believed to be close to his €30 million (£24 million) buy-out clause.  On the same day, he passed the medical exam and signed a six-year contract.

On September 17, he scored his first goal for the club against Olympiacos in a Champions League group stage match. Atlético eventually lost 3-2. On November 1, Griezmann scored a brace, his first league goals for the club, in a 4-2 win over Córdoba.

Griezmann announced on May 14, 2019, that he would be leaving Atlético Madrid after five seasons, after being heavily linked to Barcelona, who reportedly intended to pay the club’s €120 million buy-out clause.

6. Griezmann signed a contract with Barcelona

Griezmann signed a five-year contract with Barcelona on July 12, 2019. Later that day, Atlético Madrid disputed Barcelona’s signing of Griezmann. They claimed that the fee paid falls €80 million short of his release clause.

Griezmann had agreed to move to the Nou Camp before 1 July 2019, when his €200 million buy-out clause was reduced to €120 million. As a result, Atlético later stated that they have “started the procedures it considers appropriate for the defense of its legitimate rights and interests.” 

On 14 July, he was presented at the Camp Nou and given the number 17 shirt. He then made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Chelsea. On the same day, some Atlético Madrid supporters vandalized Griezmann’s plaque outside the Wanda Metropolitano.

7. Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid on a loan

Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid on a one-year loan on August 31, 2021, with the option to extend the loan for another year and an obligatory permanent transfer clause worth €40 million to be activated by 2023.

8.He played in the 2014 & 2018 world cup

French team, winner of the Football World Cup 2018 in Russia. Photo by Russian Presidential Press and Information Office. Wikimedia Commons

He was named in Deschamps’ squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on May 13.  On June 1, against Paraguay in Nice, he scored his first international goal for France, tying the game at 1-1. He added two more as a late substitute for Olivier Giroud in France’s final warm-up match, an 8-0 win over Jamaica on June 8.

Griezmann was named to France’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia on May 17, 2018. On June 16, 2018, he was fouled in the box and scored the resulting penalty kick to open the scoring in France’s 2-1 victory over Australia in the tournament’s opening match

That was the first penalty decision ever awarded in a World Cup match with the assistance of the video assistant referee system.  

9. Griezmann has a sponsorship deal with Puma

Griezmann is sponsored by the German sportswear company Puma and has appeared in Puma commercials.

His ‘Hotline Bling’ goal celebration was featured in a Puma commercial in 2016.  In December 2017, Puma unveiled Griezmann’s own custom-made football boots, the PUMA Future 18.1 “Grizi.”

10. Griezmann loves mate tea

Griezmann’s adaptability to Hispanic culture extends all the way to South America, where he has a particularly close relationship with Atletico’s Argentines and Uruguayans.

He is frequently seen drinking mate tea, a herb like caffeine-rich hot drink popular among South American players.