The 35-year-old French forward, who scored 212 goals in 500 appearances for Atletico Madrid and leaves as the club's all-time leading scorer, assisted Ademola Lookman's winner in a 1-0 victory over Girona before being honoured in a ceremony at the Metropolitano in front of 64,000 supporters who stayed long after the final whistle.
President Enrique Cerezo presented him with a plaque marking his 500th appearance and a replica of the Metropolitano. Club legends including Fernando Torres and Diego Godín joined current captains Jan Oblak, Koke Resurrección and José María Giménez on the pitch alongside Simeone, who told Griezmann that not a single fan had left their seat.
When Griezmann attempted his speech, emotion overwhelmed him immediately.
"I had a speech prepared, but it all went to hell."
He composed himself enough to deliver the words that mattered most.
"First, thank you all for staying. This is amazing. Second, I know many of you have already forgiven me, but some still haven't — I ask your forgiveness again. I didn't realise how much love I had here. I was very young, I made a mistake. I came to my senses and we did everything we could to come back and enjoy this again."
He thanked teammates across his two spells at the club and the support staff who start work before anyone else arrives.
"I want to thank all my teammates from 2014 until today. It is incredible to share everything with them — every battle, every victory and every defeat. And the physios, the kit men who wake up at six in the morning and are the last to leave."
His most heartfelt words were reserved for Simeone, the manager who converted him from a wide forward into a world-class striker and under whose guidance he won the 2018 World Cup with France.
"To the coaching staff and to the man who changed everything at this club — Diego Pablo Simeone. Thanks to you there is so much excitement at this club and I became world champion and felt like the best player in the world. I owe you so much. It has been an honour to fight for you."
He also thanked his wife Erika Choperena and his parents, acknowledging that La Liga and Champions League titles remained absent from his collection with the club.
"I haven't been able to bring a Liga or a Champions League, but this love is worth more. I'll carry it with me for the rest of my life."
In the press room afterwards, Griezmann made clear the departure is only temporary.
"When I finish in Orlando I am going to come back to this club and help win trophies from another position. I hope someone better than me comes along and gives us the Champions League."
Griezmann joins Orlando City in MLS this summer, leaving behind a legacy that no player in Atletico's history can yet match in goals scored.