France World Cup winner Olivier Giroud has suggested that his remarkable playing career could be approaching its conclusion, with the veteran forward indicating that the current season may be his last as a professional footballer.
Giroud, who is nearing his 40th birthday, discussed his future in an interview with French newspaper L’Équipe. Reflecting on his career and the prospect of retirement, he said: “As a player, I think very likely this is going to be my last season.”
The Frenchman added that the possibility of retirement has made him more determined to enjoy his remaining time on the pitch. Rather than focusing solely on what comes next, Giroud said he was trying to make the most of every moment during what could be the final stage of his playing career.
His international career has been particularly significant. Giroud made 137 appearances for France and scored 57 goals, establishing himself as one of the country’s most prolific forwards. For a period, he held the record for the most goals scored in the history of the French national team.
Giroud reached the landmark during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he overtook Thierry Henry to become France’s all-time leading scorer. His record has since been surpassed by Kylian Mbappé, who has moved to the top of the national team’s scoring list.
Despite losing the record, Giroud’s contribution to French football remains substantial. He was part of the France side that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, playing a significant role in the team’s attacking structure during their successful campaign.
The striker’s club career has also featured major honours in several of Europe’s leading football countries. He won the French league title with Montpellier before building a reputation in the Premier League with Arsenal and later Chelsea.
At Arsenal, Giroud won the FA Cup three times. Across his career, he has collected four FA Cup winners’ medals, underlining his sustained success in English domestic football.
His most prestigious club achievement came with Chelsea in 2021, when the London side won the UEFA Champions League. Giroud scored important goals during the club’s run in the competition, including a memorable overhead kick against Atlético Madrid in the knockout stage.
He later continued his career in Italy with AC Milan, helping the club win the Serie A title. That success added another major domestic league championship to a career that had already taken him through the top divisions of France and England.
Giroud’s career has therefore combined longevity with success at both international and club level. He has won a World Cup with France, lifted the Champions League with Chelsea, claimed league titles in France and Italy, and collected multiple FA Cup medals in England.
His international record also places him among France’s most productive goalscorers, with 57 goals in 137 appearances. Although Mbappé has now moved beyond him in the scoring charts, Giroud’s period as France’s leading scorer remains an important part of his legacy.
For now, Giroud remains focused on the season in progress. He has not formally announced a retirement date, but his comments to L’Équipe point towards the possibility that the campaign could mark the end of a career spanning international triumphs, major European honours and more than a decade at the highest level.
