By McGeorge Mbare
After 10 years of dedicated service to the French football national team popularly known as Le Bleu, 2018 World Cup winner, Antoine Griezmann, has called time on his international career.
The decorated French international, announced his retirement in a social media post.
Griezmann made his debut for France on the 5th of March 2014, under the management of Didier Deschamps, in a game Le Bleu went on to win 2-0 against the Netherlands, but has decided to hang his boots and end his illustrious international career.
“After 10 incredible years marked by challenges, successes and unforgettable moments, it is time for me to turn a page and make way for the new generation…Wearing this jersey was an honour and a privilege,” he wrote.
Antonio Griezmann played a key role in helping France to a runner-up finish at the 2016 European Championship after the defeat by Portugal, where he was the player of the tournament, won the 2018 World Cup and the Nations League three years later with his French teammates.
The 33-year-old Atletico Madrid forward, affectionately nicknamed “Grizou” by his supporters, has been capped 137 times by the French national, fighting the back of the net 44 time during his successful time with the team.
Griezmann is ranked fourth on France’s list of all-time top goal scorers behind Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe.