“Griezmann on the brink of glory: Everyone wants the Champions League before leaving.”

Antoine Griezmann is about to experience decisive moments in the Champions League, in a phase that could mark the end of his European career at the highest level. This Wednesday, at 21:00, Atlético Madrid will host Arsenal in the first leg of the semi-finals of the competition, and the hope is unanimous: that Griezmann, one of the great stars of world football, finally conquers the coveted “big-eared” trophy before heading to Orlando, in the United States.

According to the French newspaper L’Équipe, the respect and admiration for the unique style and personality of the French forward have grown exponentially over the years. Koke, teammate and close friend, expressed the wish that winning the Champions League would be the perfect gift for Griezmann, a grand farewell that everyone hopes to see materialized. For his part, Diego Simeone, Atlético’s coach, believes that destiny has in store for the player what he desires most.

But the expectation transcends Madrid. Alain Giresse, former star and expert, emphasizes that even with PSG in contention, the call for Griezmann to lift the trophy is strong. For him, Griezmann is a romantic footballer, whose career would be sublimely crowned with this triumph. Giresse also adds that the immense esteem surrounding him is, in itself, a form of success, and that the absence of the title will not diminish his reputation.

Marcos Senna, an icon of Spanish football, emphasizes that winning the Champions League would be the most fitting tribute to Griezmann’s talent. Manuel Pellegrini, a long-time admirer, considers him an ultra-complete player and believes he deserves to end his European career with such significant glory. Xabi Prieto, former captain of Real Sociedad, shares the same sentiment: Griezmann deserves to exit through the grand door, receiving the reward that his quality demands.

Miguel Ángel Nadal, a former player and respected figure in Spanish football, highlights Griezmann’s humility both on and off the pitch, a trait that explains the affection surrounding him. While he laments Barcelona’s elimination, he sees a potential Champions League victory as a perfect farewell, the “cherry on top” of a love story between the player and Atlético de Madrid.

Fans feel that this marks the departure of a rare type of footballer: intelligent, collective, and precise. Senna regrets that players of this caliber are retiring, while Prieto praises Griezmann’s vision of the game, which elevates the team’s performance. He concludes that, with or without titles, the Frenchman’s legacy goes far beyond the trophies won.

This Wednesday, European football will be focused on the Wanda Metropolitano, where Antoine Griezmann has the opportunity to not only write the brightest chapter of his career, but also to give thousands of fans the redemption and glory they have long dreamed of. Time waits for no one, and Griezmann’s time in the European elite may be coming to an end — may it conclude with an explosion of magic and a trophy for eternity.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.