Antoine Griezmann Biography: Net Worth, Age, Career, Records, Family, Achievements!
Antoine Griezmann is one of the most popular and successful football players in the world today. He currently plays as a forward for La Liga club Barcelona and the France national team.
Griezmann is renowned for his excellent attacking abilities, speed, technique, creativity, and goalscoring. He helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup and has achieved great success playing for clubs such as Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
In this comprehensive article, we explore Antoine Griezmann’s biography, net worth, age, football career, records, family, achievements, and relationships. Read on to learn everything about this superstar French footballer.
Biography and Early Life
Antoine Griezmann was born on March 21, 1991 in Mâcon, France. His full name is Antoine Griezmann and he is of French nationality.
His parents are Alain Griezmann (father) and Isabelle Griezmann (mother). Antoine has two sisters – Maud and Laurie – and a brother named Theo.
As a child, Griezmann lived in a small town in central France and grew up playing football with his siblings. He developed a passion for the sport from a young age.
Childhood and Family Influences
Antoine’s parents were both involved in football. His father Alain was a town councilor and a former player who coached local youth teams. His mother Isabelle was a former member of the women’s team at FC Mâcon.
Griezmann’s grandfather Amaro Lopes was a Portuguese footballer who immigrated to France. Although Amaro died when Antoine was young, he was an early influence and inspired Antoine’s love of football.
The family’s passion for football shaped Antoine’s early life. His parents supported his interest in the sport and encouraged him to work hard to achieve his dream of becoming a professional player.
Education Background
As a child, Griezmann studied at the Lycée Gabriel Voisin high school in his hometown. However, he dropped out at age 14 after being recruited to join the youth academy at Real Sociedad in Spain.
Football quickly became Griezmann’s main focus and he dedicated himself fully to training and developing his skills. He did not complete his formal education, concentrating entirely on his football career.
Professional Career
In 2005, at age 14, Griezmann joined the youth academy of Spanish club Real Sociedad. He progressed quickly through the youth teams before making his debut for the senior team in 2009 at age 18.
Griezmann initially struggled to secure a starting position in Sociedad’s first team. He was loaned briefly to Segunda División club Rayo Vallecano in the 2009-10 season to gain more match experience.
After returning to Sociedad, Griezmann became an integral player. Over five seasons, he made nearly 200 appearances and scored 52 goals. His speed, skill and goalscoring abilities caught the attention of bigger clubs.
Success and Stardom at Atlético Madrid
In 2014, Griezmann transferred to Atlético Madrid for a reported €30 million fee. He quickly became the focal point of Atlético’s attack alongside Mario Mandžukić.
Griezmann scored 25+ goals in each of his five seasons at Atlético, helping the club win the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and Supercopa de España. He formed a prolific partnership with Diego Costa before becoming Atlético’s undisputed star.
At Atlético Madrid, Griezmann cemented himself as one of the deadliest forwards in European football. He finished 3rd in Ballon d’Or voting in 2016 and was selected for the UEFA Team of the Year in 2016 and 2018.
His stunning performances attracted interest from elite clubs including Barcelona and Manchester United.
Blockbuster Transfer to Barcelona
After much speculation, Griezmann completed a long-anticipated transfer to Spanish giants Barcelona in July 2019 for a deal worth €120 million.
Griezmann was brought in to bolster Barcelona’s attacking firepower alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. However, his first season saw mixed results as he struggled to fully adapt to Barcelona’s style of play.
In his second season, Griezmann played more centrally and improved his goal output. But Barcelona went trophyless under manager Ronald Koeman and faced economic turmoil.
Despite the club’s struggles, Griezmann remains an important part of Barcelona’s plans to rebuild the squad and regain their status as Europe’s elite club. At age 30, his prime years should still lie ahead.
Net Worth, Endorsements & Sponsorships
According to Forbes, Antoine Griezmann has an estimated net worth of $60 million as of 2021. This makes him one of the wealthiest and highest-earning footballers in the world.
The vast majority of his income and net worth comes from his lucrative playing contracts and bonuses. For example, some key details of his current Barcelona contract include:
- Transfer fee: €120 million
- Salary: €17 million per year ($19.5 million)
- Contract length: 5 years (until 2024)
- Buyout clause: €800 million
Adding endorsement deals and sponsorships also grows Griezmann’s income and brand significantly. He has had sponsorship deals with brands like Puma, Huawei, Head & Shoulders, and Beats Electronics.
Some of his current endorsements include:
- Puma: Long-term boot sponsorship deal worth reported €10 million a year
- Konami: Appears on the cover of Pro Evolution Soccer video games
- Huawei: Brand ambassador for Huawei smartphones and tablets
- Gillette: Featured in marketing campaigns for Gillette male grooming products
With his high profile and marketability, Griezmann’s net worth and endorsements should continue to grow in the coming years as he remains one of football’s global superstars.
Awards and Achievements
- UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 2016
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2016–17
- La Liga Best Player: 2016
- La Liga top scorer: 2016
- FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2016, 2018
- Ballon d’Or third place: 2016
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2016, 2018
Team Honors
- World Cup: 2018
- UEFA Europa League: 2018
- UEFA Super Cup: 2018
- Supercopa de España: 2014
Some key highlights:
- Helped France win 2018 FIFA World Cup, scoring 4 goals.
- Won UEFA Europa League and Super Cup with Atlético Madrid in 2018.
- Named La Liga Player of the Season in 2016.
- Finished 3rd in Ballon d’Or voting in 2016 behind Messi and Ronaldo.
- Named to FIFA FIFPro World11 and UEFA Team of the Year multiple times.
Records and Unique Achievements
Some of the unique records and achievements of Antoine Griezmann’s career so far:
- Griezmann is one of only four players to finish 3rd in Ballon d’Or voting since 2008 (behind Messi and Ronaldo)
- His transfer fee of €120 million from Atlético to Barcelona in 2019 was the 5th highest ever at the time.
- He scored 133 goals across 257 appearances for Atlético Madrid – the fifth most in club history.
- In 2018, he became the first player since 1977 to score in a European Cup/Champions League final and World Cup final in the same year.
- Griezmann scored 27 consecutive penalties from November 2012 until a miss in the Champions League Final against Real Madrid in 2016.
- His 7 goals at Euro 2016 won him the Bronze Boot and he was named Player of the Tournament.
- His 293 career club goals currently ranks him 8th among active players in Europe’s top 5 leagues. He has over 100 career goals more than other strikers his age.
- Became the first footballer to feature on a French postage stamp while still playing in June 2018 (alongside other members of France’s World Cup winning team).
Playing Style and Key Attributes
Antoine Griezmann is an adaptable forward who is capable of playing anywhere across the attacking line. But he excels particularly as a second striker or in a central role as a main forward.
Griezmann likes to operate just behind the main striker or as a false nine. This allows him to drop deep, link play, orchestrate attacking moves, and run at defenders.
From these withdrawn positions, he uses his pace, technical ability, and intelligence to exploit space and get into threatening goalscoring areas.
Although naturally right-footed, he is excellent with both feet allowing him to play across the front line.
Conclusion
Antoine Griezmann has developed into one of football’s true superstars over the past decade. His meteoric rise from Real Sociedad to stardom at Atlético Madrid and Barcelona has been remarkable.
Griezmann is now an integral part of both Barcelona and the French national team’s future plans. He is in the prime years of his career and still has the chance to achieve even more at club and international level in the coming seasons.
This article has provided a comprehensive overview of his background, career, skills, achievements, net worth, and personal life. Griezmann is widely admired for his talents on the pitch as well as his humility and work ethic off it.
He has quickly become a global icon in the world’s most popular sport. With his best years still ahead, Antoine Griezmann will undoubtedly remain one of football’s brightest stars and must-watch talents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What position does Griezmann play?
Griezmann is an attacking player who can play as a second striker, winger, or central forward. He excels playing just behind the main striker where he can drop deep and exploit space. His favorite position is a false nine role.
How much is Antoine Griezmann worth?
According to Forbes, Griezmann has a net worth of around $60 million as of 2021. His current contract with Barcelona pays him a salary of €17 million per year until 2024.
What is Griezmann’s playing style?
Griezmann is renowned for his speed, technical ability, creativity, and intelligence on the ball. He links play well and likes to run at defenders. Despite being small in stature, he also has excellent aerial ability.
Is Griezmann French or Spanish?
Griezmann was born and raised in France to French parents. He is a French national team player despite also playing club football in Spain.
What trophies has Griezmann won?
Major trophies Griezmann has won include the 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Europa League (2018), UEFA Super Cup (2018), Spanish Super Cup (2014), and French Super Cup (2021).
Why did Griezmann leave Atlético Madrid?
After five highly successful seasons at Atlético, Griezmann desired a new challenge at an elite club. He completed a €120 million transfer to Barcelona in 2019 amid interest from other top European clubs.
