ANTOINE GRIEZMANN’S TRANSITION FROM LA LIGA LEGEND TO ORLANDO CITY’S NEW DESIGNATED PLAYER
Antoine Griezmann signs with Orlando City as a Designated Player, joining MLS from Atletico Madrid this July 2026.
Antoine Griezmann, who won the World Cup with France, is heading to Orlando City this summer after finishing the season with Atletico Madrid. He’s the latest big name to make the jump to MLS, joining a growing roster of stars.
Griezmann flew to Orlando this week and sealed the deal, signing on as a designated player. His contract officially kicks off in July, once the league’s secondary transfer window opens, and he’s set to be among MLS’s top earners. The exact numbers haven’t come out yet. At 35, Griezmann’s contract takes him through the 2027-28 season, with the club holding an option for one more year. He’ll wear his signature No. 7 jersey, the same number he’s sported for both Atleti and France.
All this became official on Tuesday, after weeks of rumours about his move to Florida. Griezmann’s been open about wanting to play in the States late in his career. Now, he joins a list of global stars in MLS: Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, LAFC’s Son Heung-min, the Whitecaps’ Thomas Müller, and Minnesota’s James Rodríguez. Even his 2018 France teammate Hugo Lloris now plays in LA.
Leaving Atletico won’t be easy for Griezmann. He made his name there between 2014 and 2019, returned in 2021, and became a club legend. Over his two spells, he’s racked up 298 goals and 132 appearances in 792 games, tallying 14 goals and four assists just this season. He was Atleti’s top scorer during their run to the 2016 Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid on penalties. Two years later, he scored twice in the Europa League final to help Atletico clinch the trophy.
There’s still a shot for one last title with Atleti in the Copa del Rey final on April 18, where they face Real Sociedad. Plus, Atleti remain alive in the Champions League, with a big quarterfinal matchup against Barcelona coming up.
So, what’s Griezmann walking into with Orlando? Honestly, the club needs help. They’ve managed just one win in five matches to start the 2026 season, bleeding a league-high 17 goals and firing coach Oscar Pareja after a painful 5-0 defeat at NYCFC.
Interim coach Martin Perelman has his hands full trying to fix the defence, but Griezmann should provide a real boost up front. Orlando’s attack has stalled, producing only five goals and just under seven expected goals so far. Griezmann’s own scoring touch has faded a bit this season at Atletico; he’s beaten his expected goals average in only seven of his last 31 games, but MLS tends to favour attack-minded stars, so that could turn around.
What really stands out about Griezmann right now isn’t just his finishing. His passing has been excellent among the best in La Liga this year. He’s got an 84.2% passing accuracy in the league, averages over five progressive passes and nearly five passes into the final third per game, putting him in the 98th percentile for both. Plus, he’s averaging almost a quarter of an expected assist per match, also among Spain’s best this season.
For Orlando, the question is, who's going to help Griezmann carry the attack? The team might be heading toward a rebuild after dumping Pareja. Martin Ojeda is one bright spot; he scored 16 goals off nearly 12 expected goals last year. Duncan McGuire, a former U.S. youth international, is a regular, but his goal production has dropped off to just five league goals since his breakout 2024 season.
Griezmann’s signing brings global attention, but Orlando’s got a lot to figure out if they want to turn things around. Still, his arrival gives fans a reason to hope for something better.
CARLO ANCELOTTI ISSUES TWO-MONTH WORLD CUP ULTIMATUM TO SANTOS STAR NEYMAR
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Neymar has two months to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Read the full Selecao update.
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Everyone’s talking about Neymar again as the 2026 World Cup edges closer. It’s the same old debate: does he still have a spot with Brazil? But this time there’s real hope on the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s left the door open for Neymar to make the cut. Even though Neymar hasn’t made the latest squads, he’s obviously still on the minds of the Selecao coaches.
Here’s the situation: Neymar's been battling injuries since he tore his ACL. He missed the season’s first 10 games after knee surgery last December. He got back on the field, but fitness issues and a suspension meant he still watched from the sidelines quite a bit. Still, Ancelotti isn’t ruling him out. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised Neymar’s reputation but also made something very clear: if Neymar wants the World Cup, he needs to earn it.
Talent isn't a question; nobody doubts Neymar’s skill. What matters for Ancelotti is being fit. No exceptions, no matter how big the star. “Neymar can come back. I’ve said it before, and it’s simple: only physically ready players get called up,” Ancelotti said flat-out. “His recovery from the knee injury is going well; he’s scoring again. He just needs to keep pushing and get fitter. He’s headed in the right direction.”
With 79 goals in 128 matches, Neymar has shaped Brazil’s football history. Ancelotti gets that fans want to see Neymar try one more time for the one trophy he’s never won. “Neymar belongs to Brazil’s football story. He’s hugely talented, so obviously people hope he’ll help us win the next World Cup. Right now, he’s under assessment not just by the CBF but by me, too. He’s got two months left to show he has what it takes for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar’s chance to prove himself is coming fast, with big matches for Santos ahead. He’s expected to start this Saturday when they face Atlético-MG at Vila Belmiro. If Neymar stays healthy and sharp, that final World Cup dream is still alive.
BRAD FRIEDEL LABELS WESTON MCKENNIE THE "MOST TALENTED" USMNT PLAYER OVER PULISIC
Brad Friedel sparks debate by naming Weston McKennie as more talented than Christian Pulisic for the USMNT in 2026.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel doesn’t think Christian Pulisic is the top American player right now. In his eyes, Weston McKennie is the most talented option Mauricio Pochettino's got, even though Pulisic usually gets all the attention as “Captain America.”
Pulisic does have his fans, but he hasn’t scored for the national team since 2024 and was pretty quiet during the last international break. The US had a rough time, losing 5-2 to Belgium and 2-0 to Portugal. Those friendlies were supposed to get the team ready for big opponents at the 2026 World Cup, but honestly, they just brought up even more doubts. McKennie was one of the few players who actually looked up for it, and Friedel is absolutely convinced he’s the best talent the US has right now.
The team was missing some key names, too. Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams were all out. Richards made it back for the Portugal game, but Adams’ absence in midfield was impossible to ignore. Friedel says people are making too much of these recent defeats. He thinks you have to judge the team on how they do in big tournaments, especially this summer. Still, he admits Adams is the one who keeps everyone connected, and when he’s out there, it makes McKennie better, which ends up making life easier for Pulisic.
Pochettino has a headache picking his squad for the World Cup. He’s still not set on his goalkeeper, his defence, his midfield, or even the attack. According to Friedel, no matter who fills those spots, the USMNT’s hopes really come down to what McKennie and Adams bring to the table.
Talking to Express Sport via Oddspedia, Friedel said, “The U.S. has always needed all our best guys. We’ve never been the kind of team that can go 30 deep and not lose quality except in 2002. That was the only year when anyone could’ve started, and we wouldn’t have missed a beat. Tyler is the glue for the team. He doesn’t care if you’re seven feet tall; if you’re not pulling your weight, he’ll call you out. He’s just that type of player.”
Friedel went on, “I coached a lot of these guys when I ran the under-19s. Weston McKennie is, for me, the most talented footballer we have. He can do so many things, but he needs to be fit and focused. With Juventus this season, he’s looked sharp, and he’s carrying that form into the World Cup. If he’s got Tyler alongside him, no matter where Weston ends up playing, Tyler keeps him disciplined. You always get the best version of McKennie when Adams is on the field. If those two are fit and playing well, they open up the space that lets Christian do what he does best.”
Pochettino is staring down a huge challenge to get this team ready for the World Cup. He knows they’re nowhere near their peak, but he keeps insisting they’re not far off either. If Adams can stay healthy, something that’s been tough for him lately, that would take a lot of pressure off the coach. Without him, it shows. With him, everything just seems to fall into place.
