World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann retires from international soccer after 10 years with France

World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann, one of France's most influential players over the past decade, took the soccer world by surprise Monday when he announced the end of his international career with Les Bleus.

The 33-year-old Atletico Madrid forward, affectionately nicknamed “Grizou" by his supporters, has played 137 matches with France, scoring 44 goals during a successful 10-year tenure. Griezmann's decision was unexpected after he said only a few weeks ago that he was ready to carry on with the national team until the 2026 World Cup.

His exit, following in the footsteps of other World Cup winners including Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Raphael Varane and Hugo Lloris, marks the end of an era for France.

“It’s with a heart full of memories that I close this chapter of my life,” Griezmann said in a message posted on Instagram. “Thank you for this wonderful tricolor adventure and see you soon.”

Griezmann — Atletico's s all-time record scorer — started with France in 2014 in a friendly match against the Netherlands then quickly established himself as a stalwart of the team coached by Didier Deschamps with his versatile talent and influence as both a goalscorer and an assist provider.

Only two players, Lloris and Lilian Thuram, have played more international games with France than Griezmann.

He is fourth on France's list of all-time scorers behind Giroud, Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe. He played a key role in helping France to a runner-up finish at the 2016 European Championship, where he was the player of the tournament, won the 2018 World Cup and the Nations League three years later with his French teammates.

“After 10 incredible years, marked by challenges, successes and unforgettable moments, it is time for me to turn a page and make way for the new generation,” he said. “I was lucky enough to experience some incredible moments alongside some exceptional teammates. We have shared victories that will remain forever engraved in our memories.”

Deschamps praised Griezmann's collective spirit and lauded a “selflessness that is rare among attacking players.” In addition to his attacking skills, Griezmann is also rated for his ability to defend and sense of sacrifice.

“Even if his club career is not over, Antoine was and will remain a monument to French football, one of the greatest players in its history,” Deschamps said in a message relayed by the French soccer federation. “In addition to his 44 goals and 30 assists, his contribution to the results we have achieved over the last decade is immense."

After a disappointing showing at the European Championship earlier this year, where France lost in the semifinals, Griezmann had lost some of his influence in Deschamps' team. His final appearance in the France kit was in September in a 2-0 win over Belgium in a Nations League match when he came on as a late substitute.

Although Griezmann has admitted he struggled at the Euros, he was expected to keep on playing with France until the 2026 World Cup.

In his retirement message, Griezmann thanked Deschamps for his support over the last decade despite the coach's decision to make Mbappe France captain ahead of him last year following Lloris' retirement. Griezmann had previously said Deschamps' snub had been difficult to stomach.

“It has often been said that Antoine was my darling,” Deschamps said. “We had indeed forged a very strong relationship, which will remain intact. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything, my Grizou.”

Griezmann didn't say how long he'll continue with his club career. His contract with Atletico runs until 2026.

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FILE - Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

FILE - Antoine Griezmann of France celebrates in the Belgium goal during a round of sixteen match between France and Belgium at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

FILE - France's Antoine Griezmann kisses the trophy after the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

FILE - France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates with his teammate Kylian Mbappe, left, after Paul Pogba scored his side's 3rd goal, during the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

FILE - France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring on a penalty his side' second goal during the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

FILE - France's Antoine Griezmann, right, celebrates after scoring a penalty kick during the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

FILE - France's Antoine Griezmann, right with teammate France's Presnel Kimpembe hold the World Cup trophy as they celebrate after final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

FILE - Antoine Griezmann of France waves to fans after losing during a semifinal match between Spain and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, center, with teammates at the end of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig at the Metropolitano stadium, in Madrid, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Atletico Madrid won 2-1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann attempts a shot at goal during to the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig at the Metropolitano stadium, in Madrid, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Rodrygo holds Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann during the La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

A stretch of aqueduct that supplies about half of New York City's water is being shut down through the winter as part of a $2 billion project to address massive leaks beneath the Hudson River.

The temporary shutdown of the Delaware Aqueduct in upstate New York has been in the works for years, with officials steadily boosting capacity from other parts of the city's sprawling 19-reservoir system. Water will flow uninterrupted from city faucets after the shutdown begins this week, officials said, though its famously crisp taste might be affected as other sources are tapped into more heavily.

“The water will always be there,” Paul Rush, deputy commissioner for the city’s Department of Environmental Protection. “We’re going to be changing the mix of water that consumers get.”

The Delaware Aqueduct is the longest tunnel in the world and carries water for 85 miles (137 kilometers) from four reservoirs in the Catskill region to other reservoirs in the city's northern suburbs. Operating since 1944, it provides roughly half the 1.1 billion gallons (4.2 billion liters) a day used by more than 8 million New York City residents. The system also serves some upstate municipalities.

But the aqueduct leaks up to 35 million gallons (132 million liters) of water a day, nearly all of it from a section far below the Hudson River.

The profuse leakage has been known about for decades, but city officials faced a quandary: They could not take the critical aqueduct offline for years to repair the tunnel. So instead, they began constructing a parallel 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) bypass tunnel under the river about a decade ago.

The new tunnel will be connected during the shutdown, which is expected to last up to eight months. More than 40 miles (64 kilometers) of the aqueduct running down from the four upstate reservoirs will be out of service during that time, though a section closer to the city will remain in use.

Other leaks farther north in the aqueduct also will be repaired in the coming months.

Rush said the work was timed to avoid summer months, when demand is higher. The city also has spent years making improvements to other parts of the system, some of which are more than 100 years old.

“There’s a lot of work done thinking about where the alternate supply would come from,” Rush said.

Capacity has been increased for the complementary Catskill Aqueduct, and more drinking water will come from the dozen reservoirs and three lakes of the Croton Watershed in the city's northern suburbs.

The heavier reliance on those suburban reservoirs could affect the taste of water due to a higher presence of minerals and algae in the Croton system, according to city officials.

“While some residents may notice a temporary, subtle difference in taste or aroma during the repairs, changes in taste don’t mean something is wrong with the water," DEP Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala said in a prepared statement. "Just like different brands of bottled water taste a bit different, so do our different reservoirs.”

FILE - Tunnel workers push equipment up a rail track to a machine boring a 2.5-mile bypass tunnel for the Delaware Aqueduct in Marlboro, N.Y., May 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)