July 15, (THEWILL) – France’s top goalscorer, Olivier Giroud, has announced his retirement from international football.
The 37-year-old striker confirmed the news on social media, ending a 13-year career with Les Bleus that saw him score 57 goals in 137 appearances.
Giroud surpassed Thierry Henry’s previous record of 51 goals during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He was part of the French team that won the World Cup in 2018 and finished as runners-up in both the 2016 European Championship and 2022 World Cup.
The former Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan forward made his international debut in 2011. His final goal for France came in March 2024, during a victory over Chile. Giroud had previously stated that Euro 2024 would be his last major tournament for the national team.
France reached the semifinals of Euro 2024 before losing to eventual champions Spain. Giroud made four substitute appearances during the tournament. He will now join Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC for the upcoming season.
Giroud expressed pride in his time with the national team and thanked coach Didier Deschamps for his trust. He described representing France as his “greatest pride” and “fondest memory” in his retirement announcement.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
