Griezmann Says Goodbye to Atletico Madrid with Emotional Final Metropolitano Appearance

Antoine Griezmann brought the curtain down on his Atletico Madrid home career on Sunday, making his final appearance at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in a 1-0 win over Girona. The 35-year-old, Atletico’s all-time leading scorer, will join MLS side Orlando City in the summer, ending a remarkable 10-year spell across two separate stints at the club.

The night was as emotional as it was symbolic. Griezmann, who assisted Ademola Lookman’s winning goal, addressed the home crowd after the match and began by apologising once again for his decision to leave Atletico for Barcelona in 2019. He admitted he had not fully understood the depth of the affection supporters held for him and described the move as a mistake, before thanking the club and its fans for welcoming him back.

His speech turned into a heartfelt tribute to the people who shaped his Atletico journey. Griezmann praised Diego Simeone for transforming the club and for helping him reach the highest level of his career, saying the coach played a central role in everything he achieved in Madrid. He also singled out club captain Koke Resurreccion, calling him a legend, and thanked his wife for standing by him through difficult moments and defeats.

Griezmann did not stop there. He extended his gratitude to his parents for supporting him from childhood, travelling across France so he could chase his football dream. He said that while he had been unable to deliver a league title or Champions League trophy for Atletico, the love he received from the supporters meant even more to him. For him, that connection was the greatest reward of all.

The French forward’s legacy at Atletico is already secure. Across his two spells, he became the club’s most prolific scorer and one of its defining modern figures, blending goals, creativity and work rate in a way that made him a fan favourite. His return to the club after the Barcelona chapter helped repair a relationship that had once seemed damaged beyond repair.

Sunday’s farewell felt like a full-circle moment: a player once leaving in controversy, now departing amid affection and applause. The standing ovation and emotional words from the pitch reflected how completely he had won back the Atletico faithful. As he prepares for a new chapter in Major League Soccer, Griezmann leaves Madrid with his place in the club’s history already assured.