97th appearance 

©IMAGO

Atlético Madrid against Arsenal might have struggled to compete with yesterday’s spectacle between PSG and Bayern (5-4). But for one player, it was still a special moment: Antoine Griezmann. For the 35-year-old, the 1-1 draw against Arsenal was the last ever Champions League game at Atlético’s Metropolitano. The Frenchman will leave Atleti for a second time this summer and join Major League Soccer club Orlando City. That move will end what has been a storied career for Griezmann at Atlético Madrid.

Where does Griezmann rank among Atlético’s greats in the UEFA Champions League? As the graphic above shows, tonight marked Griezmann’s 97th appearance for Atlético Madrid. Only two players, Koke (117) and Jan Oblak (105), have made more appearances for Atleti than Griezmann. Griezmann also played 22 games in the competition during his stint with Barcelona, which technically puts him ahead of his two teammates in overall appearances.

Both, of course, could still increase their number of appearances in the coming years. At most, Griezmann could reach 99 Champions League appearances for Atlético Madrid. That would require Diego Simeone’s team to beat Arsenal in the return match next week at the Emirates. The goal, of course, is something else. While Griezmann has won the World Cup with France and several club trophies with Atlético, the Champions League title has thus far eluded him. Winning the biggest club trophy would be the ultimate happy end at Atlético before Griezmann rides off to the sunset to see out his career in America.