Griezmann's first MLS brace earns Matchday 22 honor
Antoine Griezmann was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob ULTRA for Matchday 22 of the 2026 season after scoring both goals in Orlando City SC's 2-1 comeback victory over Real Salt Lake at Inter&co Stadium. The award, selected through a process in which a North American Soccer Reporters panel accounts for 75 percent of the vote and an Instagram fan vote accounts for the remaining 25 percent, marked the French forward's first Player of the Matchday recognition since joining MLS on July 7. It was also the second such honor for an Orlando City player this season, joining Martín Ojeda, who earned it at Matchday 11.
How the goals were scored
Trailing at halftime, Griezmann equalized in the 53rd minute by collecting a deflected ball in the six-yard box and finishing from close range. He then delivered the winner nine minutes before full time, navigating multiple Salt Lake defenders inside the penalty area and finishing with his right foot. The brace was Griezmann's first in MLS and lifted him to three goals across his six appearances for Orlando, all of them starts in which he has played the full 540 minutes while adding two assists.
A World Cup winner joins an elite list
Griezmann became the eighth different former FIFA World Cup winner to receive the MLS Player of the Matchday award, a group that includes Lionel Messi (14 times), Thierry Henry (six), David Villa (four), Thiago Almada (three), Youri Djorkaeff (two), Kaká (one) and Thomas Müller (one). The award was announced by Major League Soccer on Aug. 24, 2026, and was carried in English-language coverage on Aug. 25.
Impact on Orlando City's playoff standing
Orlando entered Griezmann's run of starts with 14 points from 15 matches and sat 12th in the Eastern Conference, outside the postseason places. Across his six starts — all against teams currently in playoff positions — Orlando has gone 3-2-1, collecting 10 points and climbing to ninth in the East, the final position that grants access to the play-in round of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
What comes next for Orlando
Griezmann and Orlando City are scheduled to continue their Eastern Conference push on Saturday, Aug. 29, when they travel to face Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field at 8:30 p.m. ET, with the match broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
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