Personal information

Full name: Antoine Griezmann

Date of birth: 21 March 1991

Place of birth: Mâcon, France

Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)

Playing position: Forward

Club information

Current team: Atlético Madrid

Number: 7

Early years

Griezmann was born in the commune of Mâcon in the département of Saône-et-Loire. His ancestry is Alsatian, hence his Germanic surname. He began his career playing for hometown club UF Mâcon. While there, he embarked on several trials with professional clubs in order to earn a spot in one of their youth academies, but was rejected because clubs questioned his size and lightweight frame.

In 2005, while on trial with Montpellier, Griezmann played in a friendly match against the youth academy of Paris Saint-Germain in Paris, and impressed several clubs, notably Spanish club Real Sociedad, whose scouts were attending the event. Following the match, the club's officials offered Griezmann a one-week trial in San Sebastián, which he accepted. He was later offered a second-week stay at the club. The club then contacted his parents and formally offered the player a youth contract. Griezmann's parents were initially reluctant to have their son move to Spain, but allowed him to make the move after positive reassurances.