2024 shall go down in Football History as the Year of Retirements. Innumerable iconic players who have graced the beautiful game have announced their retirements in 2024. Antoine Greizmann is the most recent in a long list of footballing greats. One of France’s all-time greats, the former Barcelona, and current Atletico Madrid player has announced his retirement from International football for France at 33 years of age.
Taking to Social Media, Antoine Greizmann posted a special video tribute with a heartfelt message which read: “It is with a heart full of memories that I close this chapter of my life. Thank you for this magnificent tricolor adventure and see you soon.”
For the past 10 seasons or so, Antoine Greizmann has been amongst the best players in the world and even close to winning the 2016 Ballon d’Or finishing third behind Ronaldo and Messi, after a brilliant Euros campaign with France. He was yet again France’s best player in the 2018 World Cup and finished 3rd on the Ballon d’Or podium 2 times in the span of 3 years.
But where does he rank in the All-Time List of France’s best Players
Is Antoine Greizmann A Top 5 French Player Of All Time?
Greizmann has always been much more than a G/A machine, as he often does the hard yards to help the team win. This is reflected in his career stats for the French National Team as well. For France, Greizmann sits on 4th in the top scorer’s list and first in the highest assists list.
As a French National Team player, he has won the Nations League and the World Cup. Which pushes his case to the top. But France has had some serious ballers playing for them. For starters, let’s make a list of the undisputed top 3.
- 1. Zinedine Zidane
- 2. Michel Platini
- 3. Thierry Henry
After Henry, you gotta have Karim Benzema, who although isn’t remembered for his time in France that much, still was one of the best to play footy. Closely followed by Kylian Mbappe who by the time he retires might overtake all the names on the list.
- 4. Karim Benzema
- 5. Kylian Mbappe
And just outside the top 5, I would put Antoine Greizmann.
- 6. Antoine Greizmann
So there it is. Antoine Greizmann at best is a top 6 French Player of All Time. But when you are from a footballing giant like France, the top 6 is still pretty awesome. Do you agree with this take? Let us know where Antoine Greizmann ranks in your list of the best French Players of All Time in the comments below.
