Can Griezmann leave Atletico and win the Champions League at the height of MLS?

as Atlético Madrid Headed down the Metropolitano tunnel, barely making it out Barcelona to reach UEFA Champions League In the semi-finals, one player is eliminated from the rest.

The team had already started from the stadium to applause from the audience South Fund Before circling the field, however Antoine Griezmann wanted more Hesitating on the touchline, he spontaneously went back alone, leaping across the turf, clapping his hands above his head.

For a minute, Griezmann was the only man on the field, leading the thousands of fans behind in celebration. Griezmann, often Atlético’s on-field conductor, is doing it again. He danced, punched the air, as his team moved into a place they hadn’t been since 2017: Europe’s final four.

“Do you know how nice it is to be in the semi-finals of the Champions League?” Atletico’s beaming head coach Diego Simeone asked afterwards. “pour” Griezmann’s dance in a simple action said the same thing.

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However, Griezmann will leave Atletico La Liga for MLS to join this summer Orlando CityA club that initially wanted to join him before the MLS transfer window closed but Finally agreed to the arrival of summer. He knows his remaining time in Madrid is short, and every moment is precious. At 35, he won’t see many more nights like this with 69,000 fans in the palm of his hand.

Griezmann is the heart and soul of this Atletico team, a club legend — their all-time leading scorer and fourth-most appearances. He is also there, beside Julian AlvarezThe best and most important player on the team right now, even at the very end.

“Training with him every day, there are moments where you think ‘maybe you could have stayed a little longer,'” Ademola Lookmanwho joined Atletico in January, told ESPN. “I wouldn’t say he surprised me, because he’s a legend in football, what he brings to the game, what he represents. You appreciate and learn from watching it close up every single day. It’s an absolute joy.”

Since Griezmann’s departure was first delayed in February, his season has turned into a farewell tour. Last month, he and Atlético faced back-to-back huge games, as the fixture list was filled with meaningful matches with a high degree of difficulty.

On March 22, Atlético played Real Madrid In the derby they then played Barcelona — the team Griezmann controversially left for them, before returning — three times, in La Liga and the Champions League. in King’s Cup In the final on 18 April, Griezmann played against his first club, Royal Society. And next up is it ArsenalA team Griezmann helped defeat en route to his only major trophy with Atlético: UEFA Europa League In 2018.

Atletico’s performance in this punishing run is indicative of what the team is, for better and for worse. “It’s Atleti,” said Simeone before almost coming back to win the first leg 4-0 to beat Barcelona 4-3 in the Copa semi-finals.

Atleti means hard work, and hard work. Their wins — such as a 3-2 win over Barca in the Champions League quarterfinals, digging deep to beat Barca 2-1 in the second leg — are often painful. Their defeat came as they were beaten on penalties royal Even more exciting was Griezmann being denied his first major domestic trophy with Atletico in this month’s Copa final.

Griezmann’s career has been similarly defined by extremes. He won in one FIFA World Cup with France (2018), and lost in another final (2022). He made himself a hero at Atletico, angered fans by joining Barcelona, ​​and then came home to make amends. He won the Europa League, Spanish Super Cup And UEFA Super Cup With Atlético, but never the Copa del Rey, and never La Liga. And now he is two games away from another Champions League final.

The last time he played in club soccer’s biggest match, in 2016, he missed a penalty in normal time before converting another in a shootout loss to Real Madrid. Atletico’s biggest night could turn out to be their most painful. This is Atleti. This is Griezmann.

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Griezmann is already among the greats

“Antoine is a club legend,” said Mario Suarez — an Atletico academy graduate who was a first-team regular between 2010 and 2015, a former teammate of Griezmann’s and now an ESPN analyst. “For me, (club captain) immediately The club’s greatest legend, as a youth player who made his way, a ‘one-club man’ and the player who played the most games (for Atlético).

“But Griezmann is the club’s all-time top scorer, and he is the foreign-born player who has played the most matches in La Liga. And he is very good. He is a player who is very intelligent. I got to enjoy playing with him, and now I get to enjoy him as a fan. I hope he has a good farewell and you have to say goodbye. He is one of them.”

These numbers firmly place Griezmann among the most important figures in La Liga history. Only three players — goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta, winger Joaquin Sanchez and midfielder Raul Garcia — have made more appearances than his 557 in the competition. Only 10 players — a KK like icon list Lionel Messi, cristiano ronaldoTelmo Jarra, Karim Benzema And Hugo Sánchez — scored more La Liga goals than his 204.

Griezmann was already an outstanding prospect at Real Sociedad — the Basque side who gave him a chance as a youth in 2005 when French clubs doubted him — before signing for Atlético. He joined Simeone’s side in 2014 and became the talisman during their reign as Spanish champions and Champions League finalists.

In 2016, Griezmann finished third in the men’s Ballon d’Or — behind Ronaldo and Messi — with Atletico and reaching the Champions League final. UEFA European Championship Final with France. Two years later, he was voted third again, this time winning the Europa League and the 2018 World Cup.

Joining Barcelona in 2019 was an ambitious mistake. He turned down the chance to do so a year ago, in a process made public in his self-produced, LeBron James-inspired film “The Decision.” When he finally arrived at the Camp Nou, there was no natural fit for Griezmann in a unit built around Messi. Even so, his impact — with 13 La Liga goals and assists in 2019-20 and 20 in 2020-21 — is greater than many might think.

Back at Atlético from 2021, he had to work to win over the fans with humility and effort. He is a successful, club record-breaker and one of the team’s captains. Only one major trophy has eluded him, most recently in this month’s Copa del Rey final. Atletico last won the league five years ago Luis Suarez The centerpiece of that team, Griezmann was still at Barca.

But beyond the trophies, stats and records, there are countless moments of seemingly effortless, unimaginable flair and innovation.

Watch Griezmann’s goals A Real Valladolid on November 30, 2024, when he shared a one-two with Alvarez to touch the ball past the goalkeeper, before spinning 360 degrees, with the grace of a dancer. And then watch again, and again, on repeat. It’s mesmerizing.

The Valladolid crowd, in the midst of a relegation battle with their team, gave him a standing ovation.

the american dream

A move to the MLS was always Griezmann’s long-term plan. He is an American sports fanatic, who even has Hosted an NFL show on YouTube.

“I’ve always said my goal is to finish (in MLS),” Griezmann told ESPN In 2023. “That’s my intention, to be there and finish my career there, to be able to enjoy the sport there. I’m a big fan.”

The question was when. In the first half of this season, he seemed to be sidelined — Simeone used him as a substitute twice as often as the starter. Alex Bena And Thiago Almada He is scheduled to be replaced.

A move to Orlando emerged as a serious possibility before the season ended. “He’s in a place where he deserves to choose what he wants to do,” Simeone admitted in February.

The only problem: Atlético were still in contention for silverware in the Copa del Rey and Champions League, and Griezmann continued to dominate. He started both legs of the Copa semi-final against Barcelona, ​​both legs of the Champions League round-of-16 tie. Tottenham Hotspurand the La Liga derby with Real Madrid.

On March 24, his move to Orlando was confirmed – but it would wait until after the season. He had unfinished business with Atlético.

‘Thank you for what you have given us’

Neither Atletico, Simeone nor Griezmann have ever won the Champions League. The club has reached three European Cup finals, in 1974, 2014 and 2016; Simeon coached them both; And Griezmann played in one. It is their white whale.

But still, as the team prepared to play Barcelona in this month’s quarter-finals, there was time for a moment of unexpected emotion from Simeone, as he interrupted Atletico’s press officer as he began his pre-match press conference.

“Before (the reporters) ask any questions, I wanted to thank you,” Simeone told Griezmannwho was sitting next to him. “Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your humility. You are an admirable figure for young people, in a society that needs people like you.

“Thank you for everything you have given us, everything you are giving us, and I will make you give us. Thank you for your commitment, for how you have always behaved as a professional. I consider you a player and then a friend.

“God willing, we’ll play five more Champions League games. Keep enjoying it. I love you. If an Atleti fan was sitting here today, they’d be saying the same thing. I introduce them. I’m your coach, and you know if you stop running tomorrow, you’re out of the team.”

“That’s all. Sorry. That’s all I had to say.”

A source close to the coach told ESPN that Simeon decided that day that he would say something. But neither the club nor Griezmann had any idea what was coming. The speech was unscripted; Simeon spoke from his heart.

On Wednesday, back at the Metropolitano, the pair will go again, chasing the Champions League dream one last time.