Atlético Madrid has a new king of goleadors and it’s a little French prince. Striker Antoine Griezmann definitively entered the pantheon of Spanish football on Wednesday by becoming the top scorer in the history of his club, with 174 goals, ahead of Spanish legend Luis Aragonés.
In the 37th minute, while his team was trailing 2 goals to 1, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup, the French international eliminated Luka Modric and Antonio Rüdiger with a left hook before to deceive Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, with a cross shot from the right in the penalty area.
Grizou considers himself “unplayable”
“For me it’s something incredible. It’s a great source of pride. At half-time I felt a lot of emotion, but we had to get back into the match,” Griezmann declared on Movistar + after the match, which was ultimately lost 5-3 in overtime. The 32-year-old Frenchman had equaled Aragonés’ record (173 goals in 370 matches, who died in 2014 at the age of 75) thanks to a double on December 20 against Getafe for the 18th day of La Liga, his 364th match with “Atléti”.
Griezmann thus establishes his legend within the Madrid club, whose red and white jersey he has worn again with pride since 2021 and his failure at FC Barcelona, after a first stint between 2014 and 2019. The 2018 world champion is certainly in good shape of his life and essential to his team’s play on the field, where his childish smile still betrays an intact passion for his sport. “I’m unplayable,” he admitted to the French press in November.
Hissed then praised
Whistled and disowned by some Atléti supporters after his transfer to Barça, “Grizou” completely turned the tide thanks to his hyperactivity on the pitch, his assists and especially his goals – surely the best way to redeem himself in their eyes . Today, only the name of “Cholo” Diego Simeone is applauded more than his before each match at the Metropolitano, where Atlético has been undefeated since January 2023. “He is having a fantastic season and is excellent at all times. no matter what position. He is the best player in Europe,” said its president, Enrique Cerezo.
However, it is difficult to imagine such a return to favor just over a year ago, when the loan agreement between Barça and Atlético only allowed him to play 30 minutes per match, before Atlético does not definitively exercise its purchase option. “Even if everyone did not agree with his return, I was convinced that he was born to play for Atlético de Madrid,” recalled his coach Diego Simeone after another recital of his handyman against Celtic Glasgow in the Champions League (6-0).
Great architect of the success of the Colchoneros in the Europa League in 2018 and unfortunate finalist of the Champions League in 2016, the Maconnais is now aiming for a first Spanish championship title.