Antoine Griezmann continues to write his legend. The international striker definitively entered the pantheon of Spanish football on Tuesday by becoming the co-top scorer in the history of Atlético Madrid alongside Spaniard Luis Aragonés.
With a double (44th, 69th sp), Griezmann scored his 172nd and 173rd goals during the 3-3 draw against Getafe on the 18th day of La Liga, his 364th match with “Atléti”. The 32-year-old Frenchman joins Aragonés (1938-2014) who established his mark in 370 matches. After a first stint between 2014 and 2019, “Grizou” has therefore proudly worn the rojiblanco jersey since 2021 and his failure at FC Barcelona.
Griezmann calls himself “unplayable”
The 2018 world champion is certainly in the form of his life and essential to his team’s play on the pitch. “I’m unplayable,” he admitted to the French press in November. “I know that the club, the coach, my teammates trust me and that helps me to be myself. And it’s true that, in my game, I’m having a lot of fun at the moment.”
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. 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 in any position. He is the best player in Europe,” said its president, Enrique Cerezo. Voted best La Liga player in 2022/23 by the newspaper A.S.the French international (127 caps, 44 goals) is in fact the most decisive player for a Spanish club in 2023 with 26 goals and 18 assists.
“I want to win a Liga”
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,” declared his coach Diego Simeone at the beginning of November 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 (against OM 3-0), and unfortunate finalist of the Champions League in 2016 (against Real on penalties), the Mâconnais is now aiming for a first title of champion of Spain. “I am motivated to become someone important at Atlético, a legend of this club. But I know I have to deserve it. I want to win a Liga, I need it,” he summed up in an interview with Marca. And when it comes to “making history,” a new milestone was reached on Tuesday.