Antoine Griezmann is not playing for France because he retired from international football in September 2024, so he was not available for selection afterward. Reports say he stepped aside to make room for the next generation, and that retirement ruled him out of France’s 2026 World Cup plans.

What happened

  • Griezmann announced his France retirement after 10 years with the national team.
  • He had been a major part of France’s recent success, including the 2018 World Cup win.
  • After his retirement, he could not be picked for later squads, including the 2026 World Cup group.

Why people noticed it

  • Some older articles about him missing matches were due to injury, but that was a separate, temporary issue before his retirement.
  • The current reason is not a coach’s omission or a short-term fitness problem; it is his international retirement.

TL;DR

Griezmann is absent for France because he officially retired from the national team in 2024, not because of a new injury or surprise exclusion.