When you ask did Griezmann play with Messi, the answer is yes — and not just once. But it’s not as simple as confirming a shared pitch: their relationship is layered with expectations, compact chemistry, friction, and shared history. In this article, DuitKick will walk you through when, how much, what worked, and what didn’t—with stats, stories, and analysis to satisfy every curious fan.
When Did Griezmann And Messi Become Teammates?
Antoine Griezmann joined FC Barcelona in the summer of 2019, after being purchased from Atlético Madrid. In that transfer window, the Catalan club bet on him being a key addition to their attacking front, alongside Lionel Messi. Griezmann’s stay at Barça lasted through 2021. During that period, Griezmann and Messi shared the same team for two seasons, overlapping in La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa, and Champions League fixtures.
So yes: Griezmann and Messi were Barcelona teammates from 2019 to 2021.
How Many Matches Did They Play Together?
It’s one thing to share a club; it’s another to actually be on the same field regularly. They weren’t just nominal teammates—they logged real minutes together:
- Across all competitions, they appeared together in 85 matches.
- Their combined productivity: 12 goals (with Griezmann contributing 5) and additional assists.
- In La Liga specifically, they played ~63 matches together, in the Champions League ~13, Copa del Rey ~7, plus domestic Supercopa ties.
- In those 85 joint outings, their side won 51, drew 16, and lost 18.
- Minutes on the pitch together: about 5,983 minutes in total.
These numbers show that although Griezmann didn’t instantly supersede established stars, he was a consistent presence alongside Messi.
Over those matches, Griezmann scored 5 goals while Messi scored the rest of the 12 total in those shared fixtures. Their joint goal participation was modest.
So in short: yes, they played a substantial number of matches together, giving fans ample opportunity to see their sync (or lack thereof).
What Kind Of Partnership Did They Have?
It’s one thing to play together; it’s another to click. Here’s how their relationship worked—on and off the field.
Tactical Fit And Positioning
Messi was already the axis at Barça—playing fluidly across attacking zones, drifting into midfield, creating, scoring. Griezmann came in with expectations to add balance, unpredictability, and off-the-ball movement. Over time, some of Messi’s tactical influence shaped how Griezmann was deployed.
- Reports suggest Messi tweaked Barca’s setup to better incorporate Griezmann—sometimes slotting him more centrally, or letting Griezmann drift to wide areas to complement Messi’s creativity.
- Their partnership was never as intuitive as Messi–Suárez or Messi–Neymar, but there were moments when their overlapping runs, passes, and finishes produced spark.
Successes And Struggles
Wins and a Trophy: Together, they lifted the 2020–21 Copa del Rey. That remains their “big” winning moment as teammates. Their broader team didn’t dominate during those years (La Liga and Champions League remained elusive in that era).
Challenges:
- Chemistry issues: Griezmann has spoken about tension with Messi. At times media reported friction.
- Fan scrutiny: Because Griezmann had a big salary and hype behind him, comparisons were inevitable—and sometimes harsh.
- Adaptation: Messi was used to playing with certain styles; integrating Griezmann into that ecosystem wasn’t plug-and-play. Some matches saw misalignments in movement or overlapping roles.
Standout Moments Together
- In the 2021 Copa del Rey final, Messi and Griezmann started together, and Barça demolished Athletic Bilbao 4–0. A rare night when everything clicked.
- In the 2021 Supercopa de España final, Griezmann actually scored twice—one of those goals coming.
- There were matches where Griezmann would assist Messi, or Messi would drop passes to Griezmann for opportunities.
Why Their Time Together Was Limited
If they played 85 matches, why does it sometimes feel like they barely worked? Several reasons:
- High expectations: Griezmann was bought for a lot. Media and fans expected magic from the Messi–Griezmann duo—so anything less felt like failure.
- Tactical rigidity / transition: Barcelona was in flux during those seasons—managers changing, systems altering, pressure mounting. That instability can hurt forging seamless partnerships.
- Personality & role overlap: Messi often had the freedom to do as he pleased. Griezmann had to adapt. In some matches, they overlapped roles, leading to spacing issues or confusion.
- Time and consistency: Two seasons is not a long period to perfect chemistry. Injuries, rotations, and form dips also cut into continuity.
- Return to Atlético: By 2021, Griezmann was loaned (and later transferred) back to Atlético. That truncated their shared era.
All these variables meant that while they did play together, their relationship remained imperfect—full of flashes, but also mismatches.
Did Griezmann And Messi Share National Team Play?
No—Griezmann (France) and Messi (Argentina) never shared a national-team jersey. Their only shared playing time is confined to their Barcelona period.
That means anytime you see them “playing together,” it refers to club matches—not international competition.
Legacy Of Their Partnership
When people ask did Griezmann play with Messi, the answer is absolutely yes—but it’s the how that makes their story interesting.
- Their 85 matches together are a decent sample size, though arguably not enough to fully unleash their potential as a duo.
- They won one major trophy together (Copa del Rey 2021) but fell short when it came to league titles or Champions League success in that stretch.
- Some fans believe that Griezmann never got the full freedom or support he needed to shine next to Messi; others argue he underdelivered under those expectations.
Still, their time together remains a point of fascination for fans wondering: Could two superstars with very different styles ever truly sync?
Final Thoughts
Did Griezmann play with Messi? Yes—over 85 matches across club competitions, in their overlapping time at Barcelona between 2019 and 2021. Their partnership came with flashes of brilliance and as many struggles, shaped by expectations, tactical fits, and evolving team dynamics. Their time together was short but memorable.
DuitKick hopes this article gave you a clear, detailed, and emotionally honest look at the Messi–Griezmann era. Want match-by-match breakdowns, assist maps, or player comparison charts? Just say the word and I’ll dig deeper.
