Antoine Griezmann hits 209th Atlético goal as impact endures amid reduced minutes | OneFootball

Antoine Griezmann remains decisive for Atlético Madrid despite a reduced role, scoring his 209th club goal in Thursday’s 5-0 win at Betis in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. He is the club’s all-time leading scorer.

“I understand that I must set an example to my team-mates and prove to the coach I am always ready to play, that I have everything needed to earn my place in the starting eleven,” he told As on 19 November. “I am very happy here in Madrid, playing for Atlético, and I think that shows this season.”

He extended his contract to 2027 at the end of last season and believes he can still carry the team. He turns 35 on 21 March and, since early 2025, Diego Simeone has used him more often from the bench.

This season he has about 1,350 minutes in all competitions, compared with 2,260 at the same stage last term, yet he has 11 goals and one assist. On 13 December he came on and decided a 2-1 Liga win over Valencia within 15 minutes, later adding he aims to perform in every minute and help Atlético win a trophy.

Across the calendar year he became Europe’s second most effective substitute with eight goals and three assists, behind the Parisian Gonçalo Ramos on 10 and one. In the second half of 2025 he scored seven off the bench, the Portuguese five. A recent minor thigh injury has not curtailed him.

Across nine seasons in Madrid he has won only the 2018 Europa League, the 2018 UEFA Super Cup and the 2014 Spanish Super Cup. He dreams of La Liga and the Champions League, and to a lesser extent the Copa del Rey, and does not envisage leaving without at least one of those, amid rumours of a move to Miami next season.

Source: L'Équipe