Antoine Griezmann — France World Cup 2026 Squad

Antoine Griezmann has been the connective tissue of the France national team for nearly a decade, a forward whose contribution is easier to feel than to measure. He has 137 caps and 44 goals for France, and at 35 he is approaching the end of an international career that has produced a World Cup winner medal, a Nations League title, and a runner-up finish at Euro 2016.

Career Highlights

Griezmann was the top scorer at Euro 2016 with six goals despite France losing the final to Portugal, and two years later he was instrumental in France's World Cup triumph in Russia, scoring four goals including a pivotal brace in the semi-final against Belgium and converting a penalty in the final against Croatia. He was named the best player of the 2018 World Cup by multiple outlets and added a Nations League winners medal in 2021. His ability to deliver in the most consequential matches has defined his career and kept him in the France side even as younger alternatives have emerged.

Club Career

Griezmann has spent the majority of his club career at Atletico Madrid across two spells, interrupted by a stint at Barcelona that never quite suited him. Under Diego Simeone he operates as a second striker in a compact system that values defensive work and quick transitions. He won the Europa League with Atletico in 2018 and has consistently been the team's most important attacking player. His return to Atletico after the Barcelona interlude restored him to the environment where he performs best, and he has continued to produce goals and assists while adapting his game as his pace has declined.

International Career & World Cup History

Griezmann made his France debut in 2014 and by Euro 2016 was the team's focal point. He was one of France's most consistent performers in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he reinvented himself as a deeper playmaker, dropping into midfield to link play and creating more chances than any other French player. His understanding with Kylian Mbappe has been central to France's attacking structure, and his tactical intelligence allows Didier Deschamps to field a more fluid system. He was a World Cup final starter in both 2018 and 2022.

World Cup 2026 Outlook

This will almost certainly be Griezmann's last World Cup. He has already indicated that he will retire from international football after the tournament. His pace has declined and there are matches where he drifts out of the game for long periods, but his tactical intelligence and understanding with Mbappe have not diminished. France will need to find a replacement for the linking role he plays, and it is not clear that any current player can replicate what he does. For now, Griezmann remains the player who makes France function as an attacking unit, and his presence is still justified by what he contributes in the moments that decide matches.