This portrait was captured during Griezmann’s time at Atletico Madrid, where I had the opportunity to photograph him on the pitch in Istanbul during a UEFA Champions League fixture. Getting a clean, expressive frame of a player of his caliber — one that works editorially across different stories and contexts — is exactly the kind of image that keeps circulating long after the match is over.
Griezmann’s move to Orlando City SC represents a landmark signing for Major League Soccer, bringing one of the most decorated French footballers of his generation to the US league. The Athletic’s decision to use this portrait to lead their transfer coverage reflects how a single strong image can define the visual identity of a story.
This collaboration with The Athletic is part of a broader body of work I have been building covering top-level football in Turkey and Europe. Based in Istanbul and accredited for UEFA competitions, I photograph matches across the Turkish Süper Lig, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League, working with international media outlets including ESPN, CNN, The Mirror, and Ouest-France.
Link to publication : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7066506/2026/02/23/antoine-griezmann-transfer-orlando-city/
