Antoine Griezmann has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 10-year career in France that began in 2014.
The 33-year-old played 137 times for his country. He played a pivotal role in his country’s World Cup triumph in 2018, taking the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third best player and the Silver Boot as second top scorer.
Griezmann had previously been the top scorer and best player at Euro 2016 France reached the final but lost to Portugal, while also playing in 2022 World Cup final and won the 2020/21 edition of the UEFA Nations League with Les Bleus.
“It is with a heart full of memories that I close this chapter of my life. Thank you for this wonderful tricolor adventure and see you soon,” he said. Atlético de Madrid caption published Instagram.
Griezmann’s 137 caps put him third on France’s all-time appearances list, level with Olivier Giroud, who also hung up his international boots this year. Only Lilian Thuram (142) and Hugo Lloris (145) have played more often for the national team.
Griezmann also scored 44 goals during those international outings, placing him fourth on the all-time list, ahead of Michel Platini (41) and behind Kylian Mbappe (48), Thierry Henry (51) and Giroud (57).
Although born in Macon in east-central France, Griezmann moved to Spain aged 14 to sign for Real Sociedad and went under the radar at junior international level.
His first appearance for France did not come until the under-19 age group, while his senior debut did not come until 16 days before his 23rd birthday, just months after the World Cup in 2014
Griezmann’s last game came as a late substitute in the Nations League win against Belgium last month. Euro 2024 during the summer was his sixth and last major international tournament.
