Antoine Griezmann - A Detailed Overview
Early Life
Antoine Griezmann was born on March 21, 1991 in Mâcon, France. As the youngest of four siblings, Griezmann grew up in a football-loving family. His father was a football coach in his hometown, his mother, of Portuguese descent, was also closely related to football - her father had played for the Portuguese national team. Antoine began his football journey at the age of 6 at a local club, UF Maconnais, where his father was serving as a coach.
Starting Football Career
Griezmann was not impressive physically, he was short and quite thin for his age - a reason for French clubs' rejection to sign him. But his talent was noticed when he took part in a youth tournament in Paris. He was only 13 when he was spotted by scouts from Real Sociedad, a club from Spain, who were impressed with his technique, dribbling, and speed. The Spanish club took a gamble with Griezmann and offered him a youth contract. He moved with his parents to San Sebastián, Spain, in 2005.
Time with Real Sociedad
After a few years in Real Sociedad youth academy, Griezmann quickly progressed through the ranks. He debuted for the first team in 2009, increasing his contribution year after year. In the season of 2012-2013, he was a key figure, helping Real Sociedad qualify for the UEFA Champions League. He made more than 200 appearances for the club, scoring 53 goals.
Move to Atlético Madrid
After five years with Real Sociedad, Griezmann moved to another Spanish club, Atlético Madrid, in 2014 for a fee that was just over €30 million. At Atlético, he stepped up his game even further, soon becoming one of the top players in Europe. His best season at the club was in 2015-2016, when he scored 32 goals in all competitions and helped lead Atlético to the finals of the UEFA Champions League.
World Cup Champion
Griezmann had been a regular player for the French national team since 2014. He played a pivotal part in France’s journey to the final of the 2016 UEFA European Championship, where they eventually lost to Portugal. However, the pinnacle of Griezmann's international career came in 2018 when he helped France to win the FIFA World Cup in Russia. He scored four goals in the tournament, including one in the final, and was awarded the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third-best player and the Silver Boot as the second-highest goal scorer.
FC Barcelona Era
In July 2019, Griezmann made a big move to FC Barcelona, signing a five-year-contract for a massive transfer fee, a reported €120 million. Despite a somewhat difficult start, Griezmann has managed to find his place in the team and has continued to score goals consistently. He has been an important player for Barcelona, especially after the departure of Lionel Messi.
Return to Atlético Madrid
In August 2021, unexpected news surfaced: Griezmann was returning to Atlético Madrid on loan, with an option to buy. His experience with Barcelona was thus marked by surprisingly swift changes but still left its mark on his career.
Style of Play
Griezmann is known for his speed, skill, and his ability to score goals from both inside and outside the penalty box. Primarily an explosive forward, he is also capable of participating in the build-up as a playmaker. He is adaptable and can play in several attacking positions. His finishing ability, combined with his work rate and sense of positioning, make him one of the most complete forwards in world football.
Personal Life
Griezmann is married to Erika Choperena, a Spanish child psychologist. They have two children, a daughter named Mia who was born in 2016 and a son, Amaro, born in 2019. He has often spoken about the stabilizing influence his family has had on his career.
