Antoine Griezmann Retires From International Football After Ten Years With France

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Antoine Griezmann has decided to retire from international football after a decade-long career with the French national team. He earned 137 caps and made his debut in March 2014 during a friendly against the Netherlands. Griezmann played a crucial role in six major tournaments under Didier Deschamps, including scoring in the 2018 World Cup final where France defeated Croatia.

Throughout his international career, Griezmann achieved significant milestones. He was instrumental in France's victory in the 2020-21 Nations League and emerged as the top scorer at Euro 2016, where France finished second to Portugal. His contributions were vital as France reached the 2022 World Cup final, though they lost to Argentina.

In a heartfelt video shared on social media, Griezmann expressed gratitude for his journey with the French team. "It is with a heart full of memories that I close this chapter of my life. Thank you for this magnificent tricolour adventure and see you soon," he stated.

Griezmann's retirement places him third in France's all-time appearance list alongside Olivier Giroud, only behind Hugo Lloris (145) and Lillian Thuram (142). With 44 goals, he ranks as France's fourth-highest scorer and holds the record for most assists (30) since records began in 1966.

The forward started 116 matches for France, ranking third in their history. His streak of playing in 84 consecutive games ended earlier this year when he missed a friendly against Germany. His impact was most notable at the European Championships, where he scored seven goals overall.

A Milestone in Club Football

The announcement of his retirement came shortly after Griezmann marked his 500th LaLiga appearance during Atletico Madrid's draw with Real Madrid. He became only the second non-Spanish player to reach this milestone after Lionel Messi. Sevilla's Jesus Navas is currently the only active player with more appearances.

In LaLiga, Griezmann has played for several clubs: Atletico Madrid (285 appearances), Real Sociedad (141), and Barcelona (74). He is one of just eight players to have reached the milestone of 500 matches in Spain's top league.

Griezmann's legacy is defined by his remarkable achievements both internationally and at club level. His contributions have left an indelible mark on French football history.