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One
Did you know? that although Antoine Griezmann is from France, interestingly though, in his Senior career he has never played for a French team. And why is that? Because he was initially considered too small and skinny by French scouts. And so he had to move to Spain at only 14 years old to join the youth academy of Real Sociedad. So from the get-go, the kid faced obstacles in his career.
TWO
Griezmann missed a golden opportunity to win the Euro 2016 title. Not only was the Championship in France, but a rough challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo in only the 10th minute, saw the Portuguese star leave the pitch on a stretcher, and left Portugal to face a stronger opponent on their home turf. Griezmann and his teammates didn’t seize the moment and missed so many chances to win the game. And because in football you often get punished for those missed opportunities, a strike by this guy called Eder, who not a lot of people had ever heard of, saw Portugal defeat France in Paris and become European Champions for the first time ever.
THREE
Griezmann could’ve accomplished the rare feat of becoming a two-time World Cup winner. But in the most dramatic World Cup final ever, a historic last second save by Emiliano Martinez, and a strange miss by Randall Kolo Muane denied France a 2nd consecutive World Cup title, after pulling off an incredible comeback in the game’s original time. Argentina were clearly the better side, yet France missed a great advantage and an incredible weapon when a fight between Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann forced Benzema to leave the World Cup in the group stages. So did Griezmann’s actions result in a weaker France squad?
FOUR
Despite playing in La Liga for 15 years, Griezmann has never been crowned La Liga Champion. But not only is he missing that elusive title, but he’s been a JINX when it comes to winning La Liga. When he joined Atlético Madrid in 2014, the team were champions the year before, but couldn’t defend the title and lost it to Barcelona. When he joined Barcelona in 2020, Atlético Madrid win that year’s title for the 1st time in 6 years. And when he breaks his five-year Barcelona contract and rejoins Atlético Madrid, the following year Barcelona win La Liga for the 1st time in 3 years. Poor Antoine didn’t just miss winning the league, but his time in Barcelona was so hard, that Griezmann’s own uncle said that Lionel Messi never wanted him there in the first place.
FIVE
But not only has Griezmann never won the league, but he was one of the reasons Atlético Madrid lost the 2016 UEFA Champions League final vs Real Madrid. Fernando Torres was fouled by crazy Pepe inside the box, and so when Griezmann stepped up and took the penalty, he didn’t just miss, but his shot was so high, that it seemed he was watching something fly off in the sky. And for a game that ended in a 1-1 draw in its official time, scoring that penalty would’ve helped Atlético Madrid win their first and only Champions League title.
But despite all these challenges, the backlash and the booing from Atlético Madrid fans, Griezmann has shown resilience and determination, and has won back the support of the fans through his performances on the field. But will he be able to one day win those two prestigious La Liga and Champions League titles?