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Antoine Griezmann has retired from international football with immediate effect.
The 33-year-old won 137 caps for France, scoring 44 goals, and was a crucial part of the side that won the World Cup in 2018 and reached the final four years later in Qatar.
In a post on X, he wrote: “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.”
C’est avec le cœur plein de souvenirs que je clos ce chapitre de ma vie. Merci pour cette magnifique aventure tricolore et à bientôt. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/qpw8dvdtFt
— Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) September 30, 2024
Griezmann played in the 2014 World Cup as France were beaten in the quarter-finals by Germany but really came to the fore two years later when his home country hosted Euro 2016.
He was named the tournament’s best player and won the Golden Boot after scoring six goals and adding two assists in seven games – including both goals in a brilliant individual display as Didier Deschamps’ men beat Germany 2-0 in the semi-finals – to help France reach the final where they lost to Portugal.
He was named the man of the match in the World Cup final in 2018 as Les Blues beat Croatia 4-2.
France underperformed at Euro 2020, losing in the round of 16 to Switzerland, but looked strong again in reaching the final of the 2022 World Cup. Griezmann shone in the quarter-final win over England with two assists in a 2-1 win and was named man of the match in the last-four triumph over Morocco.
Argentina prevailed in the final following a penalty shoot-out while Griezmann’s world record of appearing in 84 successive games for his country came to an 16 months later.
Perhaps a factor in today’s decision was Griezmann’s fall from grace during Euro 2024.
A poor start to the tournament saw him surprisingly dropped for the final group game against Poland. Although he was restored to the line-up for the knock-out clash with Belgium he was again left out for the semi-final defeat to Spain.
It seemed the long-standing bond between Deschamps and Griezmann had been broken.
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