Antoine Griezmann has paid an emotional tribute to his teammates, coaching staff and longtime manager Diego Simeone as he prepares to leave Atlético Madrid at the end of the season.
In a heartfelt farewell message shared after his final home appearance at the Metropolitano Stadium, the French forward thanked everyone he worked with during his two spells at the club since 2014.
“I want to thank all the teammates I’ve had since 2014. It has been incredible to share every day of the year with you all,” Griezmann said. He also praised the club’s medical team, kit men and other backroom staff for their hard work and dedication behind the scenes.
The 35-year-old reserved special praise for Simeone, the coach who transformed both Atlético Madrid and his career.
“Thanks to you, there is so much passion in this stadium. Thanks to you, I became a world champion. Thanks to you, I felt like the best player in the world,” he said.
Griezmann’s emotional farewell comes after reports confirmed that he will leave Atlético Madrid this summer to join Major League Soccer side Orlando City in the United States.
The French star recently played his final home game for Atlético Madrid, marking his 500th appearance for the club in a 1-0 victory over Girona.
He provided the assist for the winning goal in an emotional night filled with tributes from fans, teammates and club legends.
Griezmann leaves Atlético Madrid as one of the greatest players in the club’s history. He is the club’s all-time leading scorer with more than 200 goals and helped the team win major trophies, including the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup.
The forward first joined Atlético from Real Sociedad in 2014 before leaving for Barcelona in 2019. He later returned to Madrid in 2021 and rebuilt his strong connection with supporters.
Beyond club football, Griezmann also enjoyed a successful international career with France. He played a key role in helping France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup and later retired from international football in 2024 after earning 137 caps for his country.
