There's something almost poetic about the timing of bad news in football. Just when Antoine Griezmann seemed to have found his groove again, his body decided otherwise.
Atletico Madrid confirmed on Friday afternoon that their number seven has suffered a low-grade muscle injury in his left thigh. The club's medical staff spotted the problem after running an MRI scan following what should have been a routine training session. No timeframe was given for his return, which in football-speak usually means: we're hoping it's not as bad as it looks.
The Frenchman will definitely miss Sunday's match against Mallorca at the RiyadhAir Metropolitano. He might miss more.
The super-sub who was finally clicking
Here's the thing about this injury: it hits different because of what Griezmann has become this season. He's no longer the undisputed starter who racked up 17 goals and 9 assists last campaign. The arrival of Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth reshuffled the attacking deck, and Griezmann found himself on the bench more often than not.
Most 34-year-olds with his resume would sulk. Griezmann adapted.
His six La Liga goals this season have all come as a substitute. Let that sink in. The man has become a closer, a finisher off the bench, the guy you bring on when the game needs unlocking. Diego Simeone put it plainly before the Alaves match last week: "He's always a game-changer, with a different level of quality than the rest. Talent never fades."
And then, just four days after those words, Griezmann is on the treatment table.
A week ago, he was curling in free-kicks
Last Tuesday against Deportivo La Coruna in the Copa del Rey, Griezmann reminded everyone what he can still produce. His 61st-minute free-kick, bent into the right upper corner from 25 yards, was his 10th direct free-kick goal for Atletico across all competitions. Only Lionel Messi (36 for Barcelona) and Dani Parejo (12 for Valencia) have scored more for a single La Liga club since 2014-15.
"I didn't know where to hit it, whether to the side of the goalkeeper or over him," Griezmann said after the match. "Instead of shooting hard, I tried to place it over the wall."
Simeone was glowing: "Griezmann is a difference maker. He still has that magic of wanting to compete and help the team."
Magic doesn't protect you from muscle strains, though.
The Champions League complication
Atletico came away from Istanbul on Wednesday with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Galatasaray. Griezmann entered as a second-half substitute, replacing Sørloth, and tested goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir with a dangerous free-kick that was palmed away. Two days later, his thigh gave out in training.
Los Rojiblancos sit eighth in the Champions League league phase with 13 points from seven matches. They host Bodo/Glimt next week in what could be a must-win to secure direct qualification to the knockout rounds and avoid the playoff hassle.
Will Griezmann be fit for that one? Nobody knows. The club's statement was deliberately vague: "His return to competition will depend on the progress of his recovery."
Eleven points behind Barcelona
Atletico are fourth in La Liga, already 11 points adrift of Hansi Flick's Barcelona with half the season played. They've won their last eight home matches at the Metropolitano, their best run since December 2023. But away from home? That's been a different story—the fewest away points of the Simeone era.
Griezmann's absence might not derail them against Mallorca, a side that hasn't won at the Metropolitano since 2021. But the cumulative effect of losing your most effective bench option, the guy who changes games in the final 30 minutes, could matter over the long run.
The elephant in the room
There's broader context here that everyone's tiptoeing around. Griezmann turned 34 last March. He retired from international football in September 2024 after a decade with Les Bleus, a decision that still hasn't been fully explained beyond a social media post. His contract runs until 2027, but Spanish outlet Marca reported in the summer that he's unlikely to see it through. MLS has been calling for years, and clubs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have reportedly made offers.
This is the first significant injury setback of Griezmann's season—and arguably one of his few in a career that has been remarkably durable. Whether it's a blip or the beginning of a pattern that comes with age, only time will tell.
For now, Atletico prepare for Mallorca without their secret weapon. Simeone will find a way, as he always does. But he's made it clear: he needs Griezmann. And right now, Griezmann needs ice, rest, and time on the physio table.
Football rarely waits.
