Five facts on Antoine Griezmann who rode to France's rescue with a second-half double to dig the Euro 2016 hosts out of trouble and reach the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.
+ Too small
The scene of Griezmann's heroics were particularly sweet for the Atletico Madrid forward as he grew up a huge Lyon fan. He even trained with the French team a youngster, but was never offered a deal because hew as considered too small.
"It was our biggest mistake in years, a historic mistake," Lyon's chief scout Gerard Bonneau told Spanish newspaper AS.
Griezmann, 25, joined Spanish club Real Sociedad when he was 13 and went on to make over 200 appearances for the Basques before joining Atletico for 30 million euros in 2014.
Lyon were on the receiving end of Griezmann's talents as he scored a spectacular overhead volley in a Champions League playoff which took Sociedad into the group stages in 2013.
+ Spanish temper
Despite spending all of his adult life in Spain, Griezmann insisted he was not tempted to switch allegiance to the European champions, but has developed a Spanish temperament.
"I think in French, but I get angry in Spanish," he told Le Parisien before the tournament.
"I've always had the same idea (to) play for Les Bleus because I was born in France and grew up watching the likes of (Zinedine) Zidane and (Thierry) Henry during the 1998 World Cup, so my dream is to live and repeat that with the French shirt."
+ World's top three
Griezmann has scored 57 goals in two seasons at Atletico to be hailed as a worthy heir to star strikers such as a young Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone believes only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi can be considered better than Griezmann.
"He has worked very hard, pushed himself and knows how to listen," said Simeone.
"The best way to improve in any job is to listen. Without doubt he is one of the best three players in the world."
+ Mate lover
Griezmann's ability to adjust to hispanic culture even stretches to South America as he enjoys a particularly close relationship with Atletico's array of Argentines and Uruguayans.
He is often seen supping on Mate - a herby caffeine rich hot drink popular with South American players.
"I don't change my habits. I have a mate every morning with (Diego) Godin and (Jose) Gimenez," he said before Atletico's Champions League final with Real Madrid.
+ New contract
Despite the immense disappointment of missing a penalty in normal time as Atletico lost to bitter local rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons, Griezmann's 32-goal season with Atletico has been rewarded with a new bumper contract until 2021.
AFP
Sun Jun 26 2016
Griezmann celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 round of 16 match between France and Republic of Ireland at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in DEcines-Charpieu on Sunday. - AFP Photo
Latihan regata bertukar tragedi, lima peserta dikhuatiri lemas
Insiden melibatkan 15 peserta menggunakan satu bot untuk latihan regata. 10 individu berjaya selamatkan diri manakala lima yang lain masih hilang.
Jumlah kematian di Lubnan terus meningkat
Jumlah kematian akibat serangan udara Israel di Lubnan sejak tercetusnya konflik Israel-Hizbullah pada 8 Oktober 2023 meningkat kepada 2,412.
Lima hilang selepas perahu lumba karam
Wartawan AWANI Borneo, Fadillah Sulaiman bawakan laporan terkini insiden perahu lumba karam dan tenggelam berhampiran kawasan perindustrian Bintawa.
Kematian Yahya Sinwar tidak sesekali patahkan semangat Hamas
Kematian itu dilihat bakal mempupuk semangat yang menebal dalam kalangan mereka untuk terus memperjuangkan agenda pembebasan Palestin yang merdeka sekali gus menamatkan agenda kekejaman rejim Zionis
Belanjawan 2025: Fokus anak muda
Belanjawan 2025: Apa yang Sabah dan Sarawak dapat?
Ikuti analisis awal Belanjawan 2025 bersama Pensyarah Kanan, Jabatan Sosiobudaya, Universiti Malaya, Datuk Prof Madya Dr. Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
Gaji minimum dinaikkan ke RM1,700 bermula Februari 2025
Penguatkuasaan gaji minimum itu ditangguhkan bagi majikan yang mempunyai kurang daripada lima pekerja bagi tempoh 6 bulan iaitu berkuat kuasa pada 1 Ogos 2025.
Yuran SBP, IPTA akan dinaikkan kepada kumpulan kaya
Jelas Anwar yang juga Menteri Kewangan, penyasaran subsidi seumpama itu akan turut melibatkan kesihatan awam.
Bantuan Awal Persekolahan kekal, kerajaan peruntukkan RM800 juta
Kerajaan mengumumkan akan meneruskan Bantuan Awal Persekolahan (BAP), dengan hampir 500 juta ringgit diperuntukkan kepada 5.2 juta murid Tahun 1 hingga Tingkatan 5 tanpa mengira pendapatan ibu bapa.
Keputusan representasi Papagomo gugur kes hasut 6 Januari 2025
Keputusan representasi dikemukakan bekas Exco Pemuda Umno Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris atau lebih dikenali Papagomo bagi menggugurkan pertuduhan menghasut yang mendatangkan kebencian terhadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim akan diketahui 6 Januari depan.
Penyerang Perancis, Antoine Griezmann umum persaraan daripada bola sepak antarabangsa
"Kini tiba masanya untuk saya membuka lembaran baharu dan memberi ruang kepada generasi baharu." - Griezmann
Kelayakan Euro 2024: Perancis peroleh kemenangan bergaya dalam aksi pembukaan
The Oranje kelihangan beberapa tonggak utama menjelang perlawanan tersebut ekoran masalah kesihatan.
Mbappe dedah Antoine Griezmann kecil hati tidak dilantik kapten Perancis
Kylian Mbappe mendedahkan Antoine Griezmann kecewa kerana tidak dpilih sebagai ketua pasukan Perancis.
Piala Dunia Qatar: Antoine Griezmann rendah diri setanding rekod Zinedine Zidane
Griezmann membekalkan hantaran penting buat gandingannya penyerang itu yang bertindak membatalkan gol penyamaan Andreas Christensen.
Saga Griezmann: Barcelona mahu saman Atletico Madrid
Barcelona dan Atletico Madrid kini sedang bertelagah mengenai klausa pembelian Griezmann secara tetap.
Kecederaan paksa Griezmann berehat panjang
Griezmann bakal terlepas kunjungan ke Sevilla Sabtu ini dan turut diketepikan untuk bertemu Granada Rabu depan.
Kelayakan Piala Dunia: Griezmann selamatkan Perancis daripada diaib Bosnia-Herzegovina
Les Bleus ketinggalan gara-gara jaringan Edin Dzeko pada minit ke-36 tetapi segera menyamakan kedudukan hasil sentuhan Antoine Griezmann.
Ronald Koeman letak harapan tinggi Antoine Griezmann terajui Barcelona
Gergasi Catalan itu meratapi kehilangan penjaring terbanyak berkenaan apabila dia rasminya diumumkan sebagai bintang baru PSG secara percuma minggu ini.
Gandingan Depay-Griezmann buat Koeman teruja
Ronald Koeman gembira dengan gandingan Memphis Depay dan Antoine Griezmann semasa kemenangan Barcelona 3-0 ke atas Stuttgart semalam.
Griezmann tidak mungkin dimaafkan penyokong Atletico - Cerezo
Griezmann telah dikaitkan dengan perpindahan kembali ke Atletico semasa jendela perpindahan ketika ini.