Digging up a compelling angle when writing about Eastern Conference teams can be pretty hit or miss, seeing as the Loons only go head-to-head with their Eastern counterparts once every few years. But when it comes to Orlando City, it’s never been easier to latch onto a storyline. After a real struggle to start the season, the Lions signed French legend Antoine Griezmann in July, and they’ve been a whole new club ever since. Who is this guy? What makes him so special? Is he really responsible for the total 180 we’ve seen from Martín Perelman’s side? Never fear, friends: Storylines is here to answer all your burning questions. C’est parti.
The Making of a Legend
Antoine Griezmann came up in Real Sociedad’s youth system, then spent his time in La Liga drumming up attention with his flair and dynamic attack. But the legend was really born when he signed with one of the giants of the league: In July 2014, Atlético Madrid signed the 23-year-old forward for a then-club record fee of around €30 million.
Under Head Coach Diego Simeone, Griezmann started racking up accomplishments immediately: a comeback hat-trick against Athletic Bilbao, La Liga Player of the Month, LFP Team of the Year honors alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He had already made it on the big stage, but he wasn’t anywhere close to done.
Griezmann was a pivotal part of Atlético’s attack for five campaigns, earning Ballon d’Or considerations, seeing the club to the 2016 Champions League final, and becoming the second French player to score 100 goals in La Liga. He transferred to Barcelona in 2019, and during his stint there won the 2021 Copa del Rey, scoring the opening goal in the 4-0 final over Bilbao. In 2021, he returned to Atlético Madrid on a loan that would lead to a permanent transfer back to the club where he cut his teeth. In the 2022-23 season, he scored 16 goals while adding 18 assists, becoming the only player in the league with double-digit stats in both columns. In January 2024, Griezmann became Atlético’s all-time leading goalscorer (203 goals).
Amid all this, he was making waves at the international level, winning the FIFA World Cup with France in 2018 and receiving man of the match honors in the final, plus earning the Bronze Ball honor. He helped his nation reach another World Cup final in 2022, though France ultimately fell to Argentina, and retired from international play in 2024. I could go on naming all the insane things he’s done, but we’d be here for ages.
Grizi’s MLS Entrance
Prior to the World Cup break, Orlando was 12th in the Eastern Conference with just five regular-season wins under their belt. They had conceded over 40 goals, parted ways with Head Coach Oscar Pareja, and only managed back-to-back wins a single time. Things looked dire, and the sporting staff decided to bring in the big guns.
The Frenchman is the latest in a line of global soccer legends making the move to Major League Soccer late in their careers: Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, Son Heung-Min, and now Antoine Griezmann. His arrival thoroughly flipped the script for the struggling Orlando side.
Since returning from the break, he’s played in six regular-season matches, starting in each one, and logged three goals and two assists (plus a goal in Leagues Cup play). Orlando has a record of 3-2-1 since his debut, when his goal contributed to a 0-4 thrashing of San Jose on the road. Shortly after, the Lions beat league-leading Nashville 1-0 in Griezmann’s Inter.co Stadium debut.
The Frenchman has proven a versatile attacker, starting up front with Homegrown forward Justin Ellis and pulling the strings to orchestrate some clever activity in the goal area. Of his 21 shots so far, 14 have been inside the box.
Perhaps the most condensed demonstration of his impact so far came from Matchday 22, when he earned Player of the Matchday honors for his stunning brace against Real Salt Lake. His first goal was a prime example of the importance of follow-through, as he kept pushing in the box to capitalize on Daryl Dike’s thwarted goal attempt. His second was a perfect combo of positioning, footwork, and intentional touches: the perfect reception, the intuitive backheel, the final shot.
According to player trait charts from both FotMob and StatsHub, Griezmann contributes 98% more touches than other forwards across North and South American leagues, as well as 97-98% more chances created. Watching his performances with Orlando so far, it’s not at all hard to believe. The club is now 9th in the East, putting them in the playoff picture for the first time all year.
The uphill battle isn’t yet over for the Lions, who still have a -17 goal differential to overcome in a crowded East, but Griezmann has unlocked swaths of potential for this Orlando squad. He’s the engine the attack needed to flourish, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. Your Loons will have their work cut out for them this weekend, and it’s shaping up to be a very exciting night of soccer in Saint Paul.
