In the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid, the France striker made history by scoring his 174th goal for Atlético Madrid. This result allowed him to surpass Luis Aragones’ record and become the greatest goalscorer in the club’s history. Griezmann, who was heavily involved in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph and is the sixth most valuable player of all time, has been on the Ballon d’Or podium twice (third in 2016 and 2018). The Frenchman is also regularly among the Top 3 best players in La Liga.
However, despite his impressive contributions to Atlético Madrid, many fans don’t seem to consider the 32-year-old one of the world’s greatest. His 21st place finish in last year’s Ballon d’Or rankings calls into question the perception of the talented Frenchman’s skill. Is it worth talking about Griezmann as a great player of the 21st century, given his impressive achievements and record-breaking contributions to Atlético Madrid? Let’s consider this issue in more detail.
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Incredible talent and versatility
One of the difficulties Antoine Griezmann faces in his rise to football star status is that his role on the pitch is difficult to define. Neither a pure center forward nor a pure forward, he often switches between both roles. It is difficult to classify him as a support striker or a number 10 playmaker. Currently, he can be defined as an attacking midfielder, but his unique qualities such as intelligence, stamina and willingness to take on different roles make him a versatile player, capable of operating in a variety of situations, including defending in his own half.
This versatility makes Griezmann especially valuable to Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone, who values the player’s hard work and dedication, willing to subordinate his interests to the team. This is important in comparison with football players who may show talent, but are not ready to work for the team. Griezmann has all the necessary qualities: precision in passing, sensitive perception of the game, excellent attacking play and relentless work.
However, one of the factors that prevents the Frenchman from being recognized as the best striker, playmaker or winger in the world is his uniqueness and mastery of several aspects of football at the same time. His role covers all of these positions, but is not limited to any of them. Another aspect that works against Griezmann is the lack of a significant number of trophies in his collection.
Difficult stage of career at Barcelona
Barcelona are going through difficult times and Antoine Griezmann, although reaching the pinnacle of his career, has faced challenges and disappointments at the Catalan club. The Frenchman played a key role in France’s World Cup triumph in 2018, but his success on the international stage was not reflected in the club’s trophies. Upon joining Barcelona in 2019 for £107 million, Griezmann was looking to fill his trophy cabinet.
Forming an attacking line with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, he encountered difficulties due to Barça’s financial and football problems. The club was in crisis, with poor management and inflated egos causing difficulties. The restrictions on positional freedom imposed on Griezmann to adapt to Barcelona’s system, where Messi dominated the attack, took a toll on his performance. Contrary to expectations, the partnership with Messi did not bring the desired results. His performances in the 2021 Copa del Rey final led to a 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, but it remains Griezmann’s only trophy for Barcelona.
Return to Atlético
In the summer of 2021, the fate of Antoine Griezmann brought him back to Atlético Madrid, after the sensational departure of Lionel Messi from Barcelona. Against this background, the Frenchman could become the leader of the Catalan club’s attacks. However, despite Messi’s desire to stay, Barcelona’s financial difficulties forced the club to loan Griezmann back to Atlético Madrid, causing discontent among some fans. Griezmann himself, despite initial resistance, again won the love of the Rojiblancos fans. His loan subsequently turned into a permanent transfer in October 2022.
Last season was one of the best of his career, where he scored 17 goals and made 22 assists to help Atlético finish third in La Liga. This success marked a significant point in the decade as the team moved towards a free-flowing attacking style under Simeone. The current season has also brought Griezmann recognition, he became the La Liga player of the month for November and a leader in the knockout stages of the Champions League. But despite his individual achievements, he needs trophies to establish his wider reputation. Despite his football success, without trophies, his achievements may remain underestimated in the eyes of the football community.
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