Antoine Griezmann has his future increasingly set outside Europe. According to Fabrizio Romano, the French forward has reached a verbal agreement with Orlando City SC to join the club in July 2026, once his contract with Atletico Madrid ends, becoming part of MLS, where Lionel Messi remains a central figure with Inter Miami, setting up the possibility of another meeting between the two.
The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann has been one of the most consistent over the past decade, with a total of 34 head-to-head matchups across clubs and international play. They frequently faced each other in La Liga, with Messi at Barcelona and Griezmann representing Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad, as well as in matches between Argentina and France.
At club level, the two players have faced each other in 31 official matches, primarily in Spanish competitions such as La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa, as well as in the UEFA Champions League. At the international level, they have faced each other three times.
Club matchups
During those matchups, Lionel Messi has held a clear edge, recording 19 wins compared to five for Antoine Griezmann, along with seven draws. In terms of scoring efficiency, Messi has been particularly dominant, netting 26 goals against teams featuring the French forward, Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid, while Griezmann has scored six goals in those direct matchups against Barcelona.
Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match.
International matchups
see also
Inter Miami complete 3-2 comeback vs NYCFC in MLS, including a Lionel Messi free-kick goal
At the international level, the story has been different, though equally significant overall. The record stands at one win for each side and one draw, which ended in the historic penalty shootout in 2022. In terms of goals in these matchups, Lionel Messi leads with two goals, both in the 2022 final, while Antoine Griezmann has one goal, scored in the Round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup.
These were results that made history. In 2018, France went on to be crowned champions, and arguably their toughest opponent was Argentina in the Round of 16, where Antoine Griezmann scored a penalty that opened the scoring in the victory.
In contrast, Argentina responded in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where Lionel Messi scored twice, one from the penalty spot to open the scoring and another in extra time to give them the lead. Griezmann was substituted in the first half of that match, where Kylian Mbappe emerged as the standout performer with a hat trick that forced a penalty shootout, where they ultimately became world champions.
What to expect in MLS
As mentioned, Antoine Griezmann is expected to arrive in MLS with Orlando City SC, where he will likely face Lionel Messi again. It will not be just another match; it will represent the Florida derby between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami, one of the most important fixtures for both teams, making it a matchup worth following when it takes place.
