Antoine Griezmann is closing in on becoming Atletico Madrid's all-time top scorer following a prolific start to the 2023/24 season for the France forward.
The 32-year-old entered the November international break as the Spanish giants' joint second-highest scorer of all time, courtesy of a goal in a 3-1 home La Liga win over Villarreal – when he also provided an assist.
The former Barcelona and Real Sociedad star has had two spells with Atleti, first playing for them between 2014 and 2019 before rejoining the club in 2021. Griezmann had stood third in the club's all-time standings in October, when he also scored all three goals in his side's trip to Celta Vigo for a 42-minute hat-trick.
Who are the top scorers in Atletico Madrid's history? And how far off the top is Griezmann? The Sporting News looks through the record books.
How many Atletico Madrid goals has Griezmann scored?
Antoine Griezmann scored a sensational header against Mallorca, opening the scoring on 64 minutes as he met Mario Hermoso's ball from deep and delivered the pinpoint strike from around 14 yards out, a very long way from goal for a headed effort.
The moment represented Griezmann's 13th goal of the season across all competitions and his 170th career goal for Atletico Madrid since first joining the club from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2014.
Between first scoring for them in September 2014 against Greek opponents Olympiakos, and his goal against Mallorca, Griezmann amassed a total of 121 in La Liga, 30 in the UEFA Champions League, 13 in the Copa del Rey and six in the Europa League.
🚨 Understand there’s nothing into the recent reports about Antoine Griezmann and Manchester United.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 21, 2023
Griezmann already rejected Saudi huge bid in June as he only wants Atlético Madrid. No chance to move now.
🔴⚪️ Antoine’s only focus is on Atléti. pic.twitter.com/QHdUA0Tkpu
Where Griezmann stands among Atletico Madrid top scorers
Griezmann's goal against Villarreal drew him level with Adrian Escudero as the club's second-highest scorer of all time. He then passed Escudero with a 64th minute opener against Mallorca on the opposite end of the November international break.
Escudero played for Atleti between 1945 and 1948, playing 330 games over 13 seasons and scoring 150 goals in La Liga, 17 in the Cup, one in the Latin Cup and one in the Duarte Cup.
The Spain international scored his first Atleti goal against Hercules on February 3, 1946 and his last against Real Sociedad on May 4, 1958.
Luis Aragones is still all-time top scorer following Atleti's most recent win, over Villarreal – but not by much.
Aragones is still four goals ahead of Griezmann at this point, with his 173 goals in 370 matches coming between 1964 and 1974.
Club legend Aragones scored 123 goals in La Liga, 22 in the cup, 12 in the European Cup, eight in the Fairs Cup, four in the Cup Winners' Cup, three in the UEFA Cup and one in the International Cup.
A three-time Liga winner and 1974 European Cup runnerup as a player at the club, Aragones went on to guide them to the top flight title in 1976/77 as one of seven trophies he won during seven stints as manager, the most recent of which finished in 2003.
For all Griezmann's trophies as a player, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup with his country, it is unlikely he will surpass the late Aragones' extraordinary career on and off the pitch, which included leading Spain to glory at EURO 2008.
Paco Campos – who played for the club during the 1930s and 1940s and has been described as "the Messi, the Ronaldo, the Kun Aguero of the time" by El Diario – is fourth on the list, followed by two fellow former Spain strikers in Jose Eulogio Garate and Fernando Torres.
| Player | Goals | Matches |
| Luis Aragones | 173 | 370 |
| Antoine Griezmann | 170 | 358 |
| Adrian Escudero | 169 | 330 |
| Paco Campos | 146 | 236 |
| Jose Eulogio Garate | 136 | 325 |
| Fernando Torres | 129 | 404 |
Griezmann France record: How many international goals?
Griezmann made his senior France debut as a 22-year-old in 2014 and opened his Bleus account that year, scoring in a friendly against Paraguay while winning his third cap.
His most prolific international year came in 2018, with his four goals at the World Cup finals that year including one in France's 4-2 win against Croatia in the final.
Following a 14-0 win over Gibraltar in EURO 2024 qualifying on November 18 - when he was, surprisingly, one of the few France players not to score - Griezmann's tally stood at 44 goals in 126 appearances.
How many goals did Griezmann score at Barcelona?
Barca activated Griezmann's £107 million (£134.3m) release fee clause to sign him in 2019, but loaned him back to his former club in 2021 before agreeing a cut-price deal to make the move permanent for around $21.9m (£17.5m) the following year.
Griezmann scored 35 goals in 102 appearances for Barca, making him the second-highest scoring French player for the club of all time behind Thierry Henry (49), although Ousmane Dembele has since overtaken Griezmann.
Antoine Griezmann contract, salary
Atleti have Griezmann under contract until June 2026 and pay him a basic gross salary of around $13.7m (£10.9m), according to Capology.
The outlet says he earns around $263,000 (£210,000) a week before bonuses.
Antoine Griezmann transfer news: Man United to sign striker?
Manchester United made a surprise move for Griezmann during the 2023/24 November international break, according to El Nacional.
Griezmann has an affordable release clause of £21.9m ($27.5m), the report said, claiming that United officials had travelled for talks with the player's representatives with a view to offering him a salary of £350,000 ($439,000) a week.
Antoine Griezmann net worth
Griezmann has a net worth of $90m (£71.8m), according to Celebrity Net Worth.
His lucrative personal deals include sponsors such as sportswear company Puma and fashion brand Mango, and he has a huge social media influence, with more than 41 million followers on Instagram alone.