Antoine Griezmann and the French greats who became legends abroad | OneFootball

As he signs off in La Liga this Sunday at Villarreal at 21:00, Antoine Griezmann stands among a select group of Frenchmen who became legends abroad. Atlético Madrid’s record scorer has 212 goals and 100 assists in 500 games, surpassing Luis Aragonés’ 173 in January 2024.

L'Équipe highlights that he sits alongside Michel Platini, Éric Cantona, Zinédine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Franck Ribéry, Karim Benzema and André-Pierre Gignac.

At Juventus from 1982, Michel Platini struck 104 goals in 223 matches, won the 1985 European Cup with the only goal against Liverpool and claimed three Ballons d’Or.

Éric Cantona’s 1992 arrival delivered the 1994 Double, with two penalties in a 4-0 FA Cup final, and the 1996 Double, sealed with the only goal in a 1-0 final against Liverpool. He retired in 1997 aged 31 and was voted fans’ player of the century.

Zinédine Zidane moved to Real Madrid in July 2001 for €75m, scored a volley in the 2-1 2002 Champions League final and won the 2003 Liga, then later captured three Champions Leagues as coach. Thierry Henry set Arsenal’s 228-goal record and won titles in 2002 and 2004, with a statue later unveiled at the Emirates.

At Bayern, Franck Ribéry’s influence drew praise from Franz Beckenbauer and Uli Hoeness. Karim Benzema’s 14 seasons at Real Madrid brought four Champions Leagues and six straight seasons as the club’s second scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

André-Pierre Gignac joined Tigres Monterrey in 2015, helped reach a first Libertadores final, won the 2015 Apertura, became record scorer in August 2019 with 222 in 444 and struck the winner to secure the 2020 Concacaf Champions League before a Club World Cup final in February 2021.

Source: L'Équipe