Antoine Griezmann bid farewell to Atletico Madrid fans on Sunday in his final home match. He recorded his 100th assist for the club before an upcoming transfer to MLS side Orlando City. Team-mate Jan Oblak led the post-match tributes, claiming the Frenchman deserved to win a Ballon d’Or during his career.
Griezmann Reaches Milestone in Final Home Game
Making his 500th appearance for the club, the 35-year-old provided the assist for Ademola Lookman in the 21st minute, securing a 1-0 victory over Girona in Atletico’s penultimate La Liga game. This assist marked his 100th in the famous red and white shirt, adding to his 212 goals. Although teammates Thiago Almada and Marc Pubill tried to set him up for a farewell goal late in the match, he didn’t score, but received a memorable send-off at the Metropolitano, with a special post-match ceremony.
- Griezmann recorded his 100th assist for Atletico Madrid.
- It was his final home match before an MLS transfer.
- He made his 500th appearance for the club.
Oblak’s High Praise for Departing Star
Long-time team-mate Oblak highlighted Griezmann’s impact with Atletico. Oblak stated: “I am happy to have been able to enjoy these years with him. He should have won a Ballon d’Or. He still has many years left in the United States.”
End of an Era
The talismanic forward’s imminent departure to Orlando City on a free transfer marks the end of an era. He joined Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014 for €54 million, quickly becoming a global star. After a €120m transfer to Barcelona in 2019, he returned to Diego Simeone’s side on loan in 2021 before sealing a permanent €22m move.
Griezmann helped Atletico win the Europa League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup across his two spells.
Atletico Madrid will travel to face Villarreal next Sunday in a battle for third place. Girona face a relegation fight and need a home victory against Elche to survive the drop.