Antoine Griezmann joins Orlando City: What fans need to know | OneFootball

By Jaime Uribarri

Orlando City shook up the MLS landscape on Tuesday with the blockbuster acquisition of French superstar Antoine Griezmann from LaLiga giants Atlético Madrid.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup champion will formally join Orlando in July after he completes the 2025-26 season with Atlético.

Here are a few fast facts to know about Griezmann and his new club.

1. World Cup champion

Of Griezmann’s numerous career accolades, arguably his biggest achievement was helping France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup title.

The Frenchman was the tournament’s Silver Boot (second-highest scorer) and Bronze Ball (third-best overall player) winner with 4g/4a. That includes 1g/2a in Les Bleus’ 4-2 World Cup final win over Croatia that earned him Man of the Match honors.

2. Atleti legend

Perhaps the greatest player in Atlético Madrid history, Griezmann is the club’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals and 97 assists in 488 matches.

He won four titles with the Spanish club, including the 2017-18 UEFA Europa League.

3. France icon

Griezmann also enjoys icon status with France, winning the aforementioned 2018 World Cup and reaching the 2022 title match, losing an epic final to Lionel Messi and Argentina.

His 137 caps are tied with ex-LAFC striker Olivier Giroud for the third-most in Les Bleus history, while his 44 goals are fourth-most behind Red Bull New York legend Thierry Henry.

4. Ballon d’Or pedigree

Griezmann’s elite form during his peak years for club and country put him in contention for the sport’s ultimate individual prize: the Ballon d’Or.

He placed third in the 2016 and 2018 editions of the annual award given out by French magazine France Football.

5. Barça stint

Griezmann, who famously compared himself to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo following his 2018 World Cup triumph with France, eventually joined the former at FC Barcelona in July 2019.

In total, he scored 35 goals in 102 appearances and won the 2020-21 Copa del Rey with Barça.

6. Messi, Suárez connection

Griezmann’s stint with Barcelona between 2019-22 led to a fruitful partnership with Messi. Both legends shared the field 85 times, with Griezmann assisting in seven Messi goals, and Messi setting up five of the Frenchman’s tallies. 

That Barça squad also featured fellow Inter Miami CF superstar Luis Suárez, who later reunited with Griezmann at Atlético Madrid during the 2021-22 LaLiga season. In total, they played 48 matches together, with Suárez assisting in two of Griezmann’s goals, and the latter returning the favor on one occasion.

7. Vela friendship

Griezmann has a close friendship with MLS legend Carlos Vela, a former teammate at Real Sociedad who enjoyed an iconic stint at LAFC before joining the club's ownership group earlier this month.

In fact, the 2019 Landon Donovan MLS MVP and 2022 MLS Cup-Supporters' Shield double winner serves as a role model for Griezmann as he gets set to try his hand in the league.

“It’s kind of what I want to do myself,” Griezmann said of Vela. “He was very important for the league, for his team. 

“He won everything, and he’s someone who I admired a lot playing in Los Angeles. And I want to reach his level as closely as possible."

8. Obed's idol

Griezmann has influenced a whole generation of soccer fans around the world, some of whom have emerged as up-and-coming global stars in their own right.

Among them is Obed Vargas, the Seattle Sounders FC homegrown midfielder whose professed admiration for Griezmann led to a heartwarming jersey exchange during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. 

Remarkably, they eventually became teammates following Vargas' blockbuster transfer to Atlético Madrid in February.

9. Orlando attraction

In Griezmann, the Lions have pulled off arguably the biggest signing in club history.

Fellow World Cup champion and 2007 Ballon d’Or winner Kaka called Orlando City home from 2015-17, as did Portugal and Manchester United legend Nani from 2019-21.

10. Coaching change

Griezmann joins an Orlando City side in flux after the club recently parted ways with longtime head coach Oscar Pareja.

The Colombian manager guided the club to six straight Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearances before departing four games into the 2026 season. Assistant coach Martín Perelman has taken over on an interim basis.

11. Star teammates

Griezmann will occupy Orlando’s third and final Designated Player slot, alongside fellow DPs Marco Pašalić and Martín Ojeda.

Pašalić is hoping to feature for Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Ojeda delivered a club-record 39 goal contributions (20g/19a) in 42 games across all competitions last year.