PARIS: France’s 2018 World Cup-winning big name Antoine Griezmann on Monday announced his retirement from global soccer, bringing to an end a ten-12 months career along with his u . S . A .. “It is with a coronary heart complete of recollections that I am ultimate this chapter of my lifestyles,” France vice-captain Griezmann, 33, wrote on X. The Atletico Madrid ahead made his France debut in March 2014 and has long past on to win 137 caps, a parent beaten simplest by using his former teammate Hugo Lloris (a hundred forty five) and 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram (142). Griezmann is likewise fourth in France’s list of all-time main aim-scorers with 44, at the back of handiest report marksman Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry and contemporary captain Kylian Mbappe. He scored in France’s four-2 win over Croatia inside the very last of the 2018 World Cup in Moscow, having formerly helped his u . S . A . Reach the final of Euro 2016, a tournament he ended as top scorer with six dreams. Griezmann changed into also exquisite for Les Bleus on their run to the 2022 World Cup final, which they misplaced on penalties to Argentina in Qatar. His final most important match might be remembered less fondly, as neither he nor his group found their nice shape at Euro 2024 notwithstanding making it to the semi-finals. Griezmann’s ultimate appearance for France got here in a UEFA Nations League win at domestic to Belgium earlier this month. The striker’s selection to cease is similarly affirmation that an generation has come to an quit for the French aspect. Lloris and centre-back Raphael Varane each retired from global responsibility within the wake of the 2022 World Cup, with the latter quitting soccer absolutely ultimate week at the age of simply 31. Giroud stopped playing for his usa in the wake of this 12 months’s Euros in Germany. Coach Didier Deschamps will name his subsequent France squad this Thursday ahead of Nations League fits in opposition to Israel in Budapest on October 10 and Belgium in Brussels 4 days later.
