Antoine Griezmann, the vice-captain of the French national team, has announced his retirement from international football, expressing his sentiments through a heartfelt message on X. At 33 years old, the Atletico Madrid forward stated, “It is with a heart full of memories that I am closing this chapter of my life.”
Griezmann made his debut for France in March 2014 and has since earned an impressive 137 caps, placing him third on the all-time list behind only former teammates Hugo Lloris (145 caps) and Lilian Thuram (142 caps). His contributions to the national team have been significant, as he ranks fourth in France’s history of leading goal-scorers, with 44 goals, following record scorer Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry, and current captain Kylian Mbappe.
His international career is highlighted by key moments, including scoring in France’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow. Griezmann played a pivotal role in that tournament, having also helped his team reach the final of Euro 2016, where he was the top scorer with six goals.
Griezmann continued to shine during the 2022 World Cup, contributing to France’s journey to the final, which they lost to Argentina in a dramatic penalty shootout. However, his last major tournament, Euro 2024, did not go as planned, as the team struggled to find their form despite reaching the semi-finals.
His final appearance for France came earlier this month during a UEFA Nations League match against Belgium, where the team secured a victory. Griezmann’s retirement marks the end of an era for the French national team, as several key players have recently stepped away from international duty.
Both Lloris and centre-back Raphael Varane announced their retirements following the 2022 World Cup, with Varane recently retiring from football altogether at just 31 years old. Additionally, Giroud concluded his international career after this year’s Euros in Germany.
With Griezmann’s departure, coach Didier Deschamps is now tasked with reshaping the team as he prepares to announce the next France squad. The new lineup will compete in Nations League matches against Israel in Budapest on October 10 and Belgium in Brussels four days later.
