Antoine Griezmann was born into a family where his father, Alain Griezmann, held a prominent position as a former town councillor, providing a comfortable upbringing. His mother, Isabelle Griezmann, once worked as a hospital cleaner, adding balance to their household. Griezmann’s football passion stems from his Portuguese heritage, with his grandfather, Amaro Lopes, a former central defender for Paços de Ferreira in Portugal, influencing his early interest in the sport. Inspired by legends like Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry during the 1998 World Cup, Griezmann, who supported Lyon as a child, displayed promising football skills from a younlifebboeerg age. Starting his career at Entente Charnay et Mâcon 71, Griezmann has steadily risen in the football world, culminating in his triumphant moment of winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Antoine Griezmann: From Childhood Passion to World Cup Glory
Discover the Life Story of Antoine Griezmann, the French football star widely known as ‘Le Petit Diable’. Our biography covers key details from his childhood to his rise as a World Cup champion in 2018.
Explore Griezmann’s early life, including insights into his family background, childhood experiences, and the journey that led to his success in football. Beyond his skills on the field, delve into his personal life, family dynamics, and lesser-known facts.
In this article, we’ll uncover the fascinating story of Antoine Griezmann, offering a deeper look into the life of this talented player both on and off the pitch.
Antoine Griezmann Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
Antoine Griezmann came into the world on March 21, 1991, in Mâcon, France. His parents are Alain Griezmann and Isabelle Griezmann.
This is little Antoine Griezmann in his Early Childhood Years.
Antoine Griezmann was born into a family with diverse backgrounds and experiences. His father, Alain Griezmann, served as a town councillor and provided well for Antoine during his childhood. In contrast, his mother, Isabelle Griezmann, worked as a hospital cleaner, reflecting a different aspect of their family life.
Griezmann’s football talent can be traced back to his Portuguese heritage. His grandfather, Amaro Lopes, was a notable figure in Portuguese football, having been a robust central defender for teams like Paços de Ferreira.
Antoine Griezmann Childhood Biography – Start to Football:
Watching legends like Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry during the 1998 World Cup deeply inspired Antoine Griezmann. Their performances ignited his passion for football and fueled his dream to one day emulate their success while representing France on the international stage.
A childhood photo of Antoine Griezmann. Some things never change!
As a young football enthusiast growing up in Mâcon, just 70 kilometers from Lyon, Antoine Griezmann showcased his talent early on. Despite being a Lyon supporter, his initial attempt to join their academy was unsuccessful due to concerns about his physical stature. Undeterred, he returned to UF Mâcon, his hometown club, where his father’s local influence secured him a place.
However, Griezmann faced continued challenges due to his small size and lightweight build during subsequent trials with professional clubs. Despite these setbacks, his passion for football remained undiminished. His early upbringing as a privileged child supported by his parents contributed to his early development as a promising footballer.
Young Antoine Griezmann in his early career years.
In 2005, Antoine Griezmann’s fortunes took a turn when he participated in a friendly match for Montpellier against Paris Saint-Germain’s youth academy in Paris. His performance caught the attention of scouts, including those from Real Sociedad, a Spanish club.
Impressed by his skills and potential, Real Sociedad’s scouts showed keen interest in Griezmann, setting him apart from other prospects. Subsequently, they invited him to a one-week trial at their training grounds in San Sebastián, an opportunity he eagerly accepted. This marked a pivotal moment in Griezmann’s journey toward professional football.
Young Antoine Griezmann achieved so much football success as a kid.
Antoine Griezmann’s persistence and talent earned him an extended trial at Real Sociedad, where his performance convinced the club of his potential. They reached out to his parents and offered him a youth contract, foreseeing a bright future for him.
Initially hesitant about their son moving to Spain, Griezmann’s parents eventually relented after assurances of his well-being and career prospects. Upon arrival at Real Sociedad, he stayed with the club’s French scout in Spain and attended school in Bayonne while training diligently at the club’s facilities.
During this time, Griezmann experienced significant physical growth, evolving from a small-statured boy into a robust teenager, a transformation that underscored his dedication and progress in his football career.
However, It took him time to break into Real Sociedad’s first team. This came after four years in the club’s youth system.
Antoine Griezmann Biography Facts – The Breakthrough:
In the summer of 2014, Griezmann made a significant move to Atletico Madrid. On July 28th, 2014, Atletico Madrid finalized a deal with Real Sociedad for his transfer, reportedly close to his £24 million (€30 million) buy-out transfer clause. He underwent a medical examination and signed a six-year contract the same day.
Despite featuring in only three of Atlético Madrid’s five matches in January 2015, he was named La Liga Player of the Month. That year, Griezmann was also the only Atletico Madrid footballer selected and one of three strikers in the Team of the Year awards at the LFP awards, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Since then, his career has continued to ascend, marking a remarkable journey to success.
Antoine Griezmann Family Life:
This section of our biography delves deeper into the footballer’s family life. Without further ado, let’s get started.
About Antoine Griezmann’s Father:
His father, Alain, who served as a Town Councillor, has Alsatian ancestry. This heritage accounts for Antoine Griezmann’s Germanic surname.
Antoine Griezmann’s Parents- Alain and Isabelle.
About Antoine Griezmann’s Mother:
His mother, Isabelle, was a former hospital cleaner and of Portuguese descent. Her father, Amaro Lopes, played football for F.C. Paços de Ferreira in Portugal. Amaro and his wife Carolina moved to France in 1957 for work in construction. Isabelle, Antoine Griezmann’s mother, was born in France after her father’s relocation. Antoine Griezmann spent his childhood holidays in Paços de Ferreira, where he developed his passion for football and eventually pursued it as a career.
About Antoine Griezmann’s Sister:
Her name is Maude. She survived the siege of the Bataclan theatre during the November 2015 Paris attacks, which coincided with Antoine Griezmann playing against Germany at the Stade de France.
As I write this Bio, she is currently his image rights manager.
Antoine Griezmann’s Sister- Maude.
About Antoine Griezmann’s Brother:
The Baller has a young brother named Theo. Theo is also a professional football player with the Portuguese football club Sporting Macon (As of the time of writing).
Young Antoine Griezmann and kid brother- Theo.
Theo became taller. This is proof that Antione once had growth issues as a kid. This was why he was once rejected by youth clubs.
Antoine Griezmann and brother.
About Erika Choperena – Antoine Griezmann Wife:
In June 2017, Antoine married his longtime partner, Erika Choperena, in what was described as a ‘Secret Wedding’.
Only his close friends and family were invited. The striker and his new wife caught the media by surprise when they released their wedding photo.
He captioned the joyful Instagram picture: “Un camino lleno de felicidad”, which roughly translates to ‘A path full of happiness’.
Antoine Griezmann Weds Erika.
To each other, they’ve made many beautiful promises. If she were a cell phone, truly, Antoine would prefer to be the charger. Everyone knew they would end up getting married. This came to pass.
Before getting married, Griezmann and his wife had a daughter named Mia Griezmann together. Antoine prefers to keep his private life shielded from the media spotlight, especially when it comes to exposing his daughter’s face.
Antoine Griezmann Daughter- Mia.
Antoine Griezmann once got a £520 fine and a warning… for celebrating his wife’s birthday after scoring.
After scoring in his side’s 3-0 victory over Valencia, he once revealed a t-shirt with the handwritten message to his wife: “Feliz Cumple Gordita”, or “Happy Birthday Chubby”.
Erika might have appreciated Griezmann’s romantic gesture, but the Spanish FA didn’t see it as amusing. Griezmann promptly settled the fine and continued to celebrate his love with Erika in their unique way.
Notwithstanding that, Antoine operates an honest relationship like that of Robert Lewandowski, Roberto Firmino and Juan Mata.
Hair Style and Tattoo Facts:
Although, Griezmann’s slick hairstyle gives the impression that he is extremely stylish and has a party lifestyle.
His tattoo gives a different idea. The French man has a number of tattoos related to religion.
Antoine Griezmann Facts – Tattoo.
His upper arm has a portrait of Jesus, while his lower arm features a rosary with clouds and stars.
The initials of his parents are also tattooed on him. Antoine is not a person who inks his body without a reason. He is extremely religious, and his tattoos are proof of all that.
Antoine Griezmann Facts – The Big Ban:
Griezmann has once been suspended from representing the French national team at any level for more than a year.
The action was in relation to an incident in which Griezmann and some of his teammates were found to have been in a Paris nightclub when they should have been with the rest of the squad at a training base in the north of the country.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for taking out time to read our version of Antoine Griezmann, a Baller who is optimistic about France’s 2024 hopes. We care about accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver French Football Stories. Surely, the Life History of Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Thuram will excite you.
