Griezmann vs Morata 2026 — Who Is the Better Player?
Antoine Griezmann leads this Atletico Madrid teammate comparison with 13 goals and 8 assists in 25 matches, significantly outproducing Alvaro Morata's 9 goals and 4 assists in 22 matches. Griezmann earns €18M per year — double Morata's €9M — and their combined 22 goals power Simeone's attack. Market values are close: Griezmann €30M, Morata €25M.
How Do Griezmann and Morata Compare in 2025-2026?
| Griezmann | Statistic | Morata |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Goals | 9 |
| 8 | Assists | 4 |
| 25 | Matches | 22 |
| 35 | Age | 33 |
| 🇫🇷 France | Nationality | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Atletico | Team | Atletico |
| Second Striker | Position | Striker |
| €18M | Salary (€/yr) | €9M |
| €30M | Market Value | €25M |
Who Earns More — Griezmann or Morata?
Antoine Griezmann earns €18 million per year at Atletico Madrid, a figure that makes him the club's highest-paid player and one of the highest earners in La Liga. His salary reflects a decade of service across two stints at the club (2014-2019, 2021-present) and his status as the most iconic player in Atletico's modern era. Including endorsement deals with Puma, Huawei, and Gillette, Griezmann's total annual earnings exceed €25 million.
Alvaro Morata earns €9 million per year following his return to Atletico from AC Milan in 2024. His wages represent a considerable discount compared to what he earned at Chelsea (€12M) and Juventus (€10M), reflecting both his age and Atletico's disciplined wage structure. However, at a cost of €1 million per goal this season (9 goals on a €9M salary), Morata delivers acceptable return on investment. Griezmann's €1.38 million per goal is higher in absolute terms, but his 8 assists — generating an estimated €12 million in additional attacking value based on xG models — make his total offensive contribution significantly more cost-effective when measured holistically.
Who Has Better Stats? Per-90 Minute Breakdown
Griezmann leads across most per-90 metrics. He averages 0.47 goals per 90 and 0.29 assists per 90, totalling 0.76 goal involvements per 90 minutes. Morata posts 0.37 goals per 90 and 0.16 assists per 90, combining for 0.53 goal involvements. The gap is significant — Griezmann produces 43% more direct attacking output per minute played.
Griezmann's creative superiority is even more pronounced. He delivers 2.6 key passes per 90, nearly three times Morata's 0.9. His progressive carries (4.2 per 90) dwarf Morata's 1.8, reflecting his role as Atletico's primary ball-carrier in transition. Griezmann also participates in 6.1 shot-creating actions per 90, the second-highest in La Liga behind only Lamine Yamal.
Morata's strengths are different but valuable. He wins 4.8 aerial duels per 90 (Griezmann: 1.2), providing a target for direct play and set-pieces. His hold-up play — measured by 3.1 successful received passes under pressure per 90 — gives Atletico an alternative attacking pattern that does not depend on intricate buildup. Morata's pressing intensity (22.1 pressures per 90 vs Griezmann's 17.8) also makes him Simeone's preferred option when defensive work from the front line is prioritized.
Tactical Analysis: The Symbiotic Partnership at Atletico Madrid
Unlike most comparisons on this page, Griezmann and Morata are not rivals competing for the same position — they are partners whose contrasting skills form Atletico Madrid's attacking identity. Diego Simeone deploys them in a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formation where Morata leads the line as the traditional centre-forward and Griezmann operates in the space behind him as a free-roaming second striker. Their combined 22 goals and 12 assists account for 68% of Atletico's total goals this season, an extraordinary dependency on a single partnership.
The partnership works because their movement patterns are complementary. Morata makes 4.6 runs into the channels per 90, dragging centre-backs out of position and creating pockets of space centrally. Griezmann exploits these pockets, arriving 0.5-1.0 seconds later into the vacated areas. Data tracking shows that 41% of Griezmann's goals this season have come from positions that Morata's movement created — a statistic that underscores how raw individual numbers fail to capture their interdependence.
The defensive dimension is equally important in Simeone's system. Both forwards press from the front with discipline that few attackers of their profile would accept. Morata's 22.1 pressures per 90 and Griezmann's 17.8 create a first line of defence that allows Atletico's midfield to sit deeper. The team concedes 0.83 goals per match when both start, rising to 1.34 when either is absent — evidence that their defensive contribution is nearly as significant as their offensive output.
The twilight factor makes this comparison poignant. At 35 and 33 respectively, both players are in the final chapters of their careers. Griezmann has confirmed that 2026-2027 will likely be his last professional season; Morata's future beyond his current contract (expires 2027) is uncertain. Their partnership represents the last great Simeone-era striking duo, carrying echoes of the Diego Costa-Griezmann and Falcao-Griezmann combinations that powered Atletico's golden years. For the present season, the question is not which player is better — it is whether their combined 22-goal, 12-assist output can carry Atletico to a Champions League challenge in what may be their final campaign together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has more goals in 2025-2026, Griezmann or Morata?
Who has more assists, Griezmann or Morata?
Who earns more, Griezmann or Morata?
Who is more valuable, Griezmann or Morata?
Do Griezmann and Morata play together at Atletico?
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