The announcement came suddenly, on a Monday at the end of September. On Antoine Griezmann’s social networks, a video, and the following text: “It is with a heart full of memories that I close this chapter of my life. Thank you for this magnificent tricolor adventure and see you soon. »
Antoine Griezmann had just announced his international retirement at 33. After 137 caps, 44 goals, and a World Cup victory. The timing was disconcerting. Typically, a player announces his international retirement before or after a major competition. Not like this, not three months after a Euro, not 10 days after a rally and two Nations League matches.
Griezmann discomfort
However, we felt a little unease around Antoine Griezmann. In poor form during the Euro, the Mâconnais had lost this untouchable status which seemed to be his with Didier Deschamps. After the elimination in the semi-final against Spain, the special correspondent for Sports.fr and French Football Weekly asked him if, by any chance, he was also thinking about international retirement. After all, Raphaël Varane, Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud had just bowed out. “Grizou” had dodged the question and left the press briefing.
At the start of the school year, things have not improved for Griezmann. The Madrilenian was scheduled to be on the bench for the first day of the Nations League against Italy, and he will only owe his presence in the eleven to the last minute withdrawal of Kolo Muani. The rest, we know it. Following this gathering, Griezmann announced his international retirement. And confirmed, indirectly, that something had broken.
The uneasiness did not really dissipate because the player did not really give the reasons for his sudden withdrawal. He has just confirmed, on various occasions, that he would not reverse his decision for the 2026 World Cup. Recently, Griezmann denied information from L’Equipe, which indicated that he had taken for himself Mike Maignan’s rant after France-Italy. But without giving his version of the facts.
Daniel Riolo had challenged him. “It would be nice to give an explanation. When you’re a legend of the Blues, you don’t leave like that without saying anything…” Maybe we’ll know more this year…