Antoine Griezmann could hardly have asked for a more impressive introduction to Major League Soccer after a stunning debut performance.
The French World Cup winner scored three minutes into the second half as Orlando City cruised to a 4-0 road victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, July 22.
The goal came after San Jose surrendered possession cheaply, allowing Justin Ellis to find Griezmann with a sharp, incisive pass through the Earthquakes defence.
The 35-year-old showed his class by cutting onto his left foot and drilling a composed low shot into the near post to make it 3-0 for Orlando City.
The strike was far more than just a debut goal, marking Griezmann’s 300th club career goal across a career spanning multiple elite European clubs.
His landmark tally has been accumulated through spells with Real Sociedad, FC Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Griezmann started and completed the full ninety minutes on his MLS debut, underlining his fitness and readiness ahead of the season ahead with Orlando City.
The result moved Orlando City up to 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, a timely boost as the club looks to climb the table.
Orlando City had announced the signing of Griezmann back in March, with the forward officially joining in July following the conclusion of his final season at Atlético Madrid.
He has signed a contract through the 2027-28 season, with the club also holding an option to extend the deal into the 2028-29 campaign.
Griezmann’s pedigree at the highest level is beyond question, having helped France win the World Cup in 2018 and reach the final again in 2022.
He retired from international football in 2024 with a remarkable record of 44 goals and 38 assists across 137 appearances for the French national team.
