“The time has come to turn the page. I am heading towards new adventures. From now on, I will be the team’s biggest supporter. The French team, which I served for 13 years, will forever remain in my heart: it is my greatest source of pride and my most precious memory,” Giroud wrote in a heartfelt message on social media announcing his retirement from international football. The 36-year-old forward had been a mainstay for Les Bleus since his debut in 2011. During his storied international career, he racked up an impressive 110 caps, placing him fourth in France’s history. Giroud’s contribution to the national team goes far beyond numbers, as he has played a crucial role in some of their greatest triumphs. He was part of the team that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, producing a series of selfless and relentless performances that formed the basis of the team’s success. Giroud may not have been the flashiest player, but his tireless work rate, aerial prowess and ability to bring others into the game made him an invaluable asset to managers Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane.
“Olivier has been an integral part of the France team for over a decade and his impact on the team goes far beyond the goals he has scored,” Deschamps said in tribute to the departing forward. “His professionalism, his team-first mentality and his willingness to do the dirty work for the benefit of the collective have been hugely important to our success. He will be greatly missed, but he can be incredibly proud of the legacy he leaves behind.” Giroud’s journey with the national team has not been without its challenges, however. He has faced fierce competition from the likes of Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann for a starting spot, and there have been times when his playing time and role have been questioned. But the forward has never let setbacks deter him, instead using them as motivation to continue to improve and prove his worth. “Olivier is the embodiment of what it means to be a team player,” said former France and Arsenal teammate Bacary Sagna. “He has never been one to grab headlines or seek individual accolades, but his contributions to the team’s success have been invaluable. He is a true professional who always puts the needs of the collective before his own, and that is something that has earned him the respect and admiration of coaches, teammates and fans alike.”
Indeed, Giroud's selflessness and commitment to the team's philosophy made him a beloved figure among French fans, who appreciated his tireless efforts and unwavering loyalty to the national cause. Although his playing time diminished in the latter stages of his career, he remained a positive and influential presence in the dressing room, mentoring younger players and ensuring the team's winning mentality remained intact. "I am incredibly proud to have represented my country for over a decade," Giroud said in his retirement statement. "Wearing the blue jersey has been an honour and a privilege, and I will cherish the memories of our triumphs and shared experiences for the rest of my life. This decision has not been an easy one, but I believe it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation take the team forward." "As Giroud enters the next chapter of his career, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy as one of the most celebrated and respected French international players of his generation. His contributions to the team's success will not soon be forgotten, and his selfless, team-oriented approach will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to aspiring young footballers across the country.
“Olivier Giroud is the epitome of what it means to be a French international,” said former national team captain Hugo Lloris. “He gave his heart and soul to this team, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his unwavering commitment and the crucial role he played in our greatest triumphs. He will be greatly missed, but we wish him all the best in his future endeavours. He will always be welcome in the French national team family.” As the curtain falls on Giroud’s illustrious international career, the forward can look back on a job well done with immense pride. He may not have been the most glamorous or high-profile player, but his impact on the team’s success and his lasting influence on the next generation of French footballers will ensure his name will live on in the annals of national team history.
Olivier Giroud, the 37-year-old prop, first pulled on the France shirt in November 2011, making his debut in a 1-1 draw against the United States. Over the next 13 years, the veteran forward would cement his place as a true icon of Les Bleus, etching his name into the history books with his unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions. During his illustrious international career, Giroud made a remarkable 137 appearances for his country, finding the back of the net 57 times and providing 15 assists. He was a key figure in some of France’s greatest triumphs, including their 2018 World Cup victory, where his tireless work and selfless play helped create the platform for the team’s success. Giroud’s journey with the national team was not without its challenges, however. He faced fierce competition from the likes of Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann for a starting spot, and there were times when his playing time and role were questioned. But the forward never let the setbacks deter him, instead using them as motivation to continue improving and proving his worth.
“Olivier is the embodiment of what it means to be a team player,” said former France and Arsenal teammate Bacary Sagna. “He was never one to grab headlines or seek individual accolades, but his contributions to the team’s success were invaluable. He is a true professional who always puts the needs of the collective before his own, and that is something that has earned him the respect and admiration of coaches, teammates and fans alike.” Indeed, Giroud’s selflessness and commitment to the team’s philosophy made him a beloved figure among French fans, who appreciated his tireless efforts and unwavering loyalty to the national cause. Although his playing time diminished in the latter stages of his career, he remained a positive and influential presence in the dressing room, mentoring the younger players and ensuring that the team’s winning mentality remained intact.
Sadly, Giroud’s final outing in a France shirt came in the heartbreaking 1-2 semi-final defeat to Spain at the 2024 European Championships. As the curtain fell on his international career, the veteran forward could look back with immense pride at the indelible mark he had left on the national team, having given his all for the cause and leaving a lasting legacy that will inspire generations of young French players to come. “Olivier Giroud was the embodiment of what it means to be a true French international,” said his former team-mate and captain Hugo Lloris. “His commitment, work ethic and selfless play were an inspiration to us all, and he will be greatly missed. But he can be incredibly proud of the impact he had on this team and the memories he created for our fans.” "As Giroud now looks to the next chapter of his illustrious career, the French football faithful will forever remember him as a true hero, a player who always put the needs of the collective before his own and whose unwavering dedication to the cause of the national team knew no bounds.
Giroud's contribution to the national team goes far beyond numbers, as he has played a crucial role in some of their greatest triumphs. He was part of the squad that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, producing a series of selfless, hard-fought performances that formed the foundation of the team's success. Giroud may not have been the flashiest player, but his tireless work rate, aerial prowess and ability to bring others into the game made him an invaluable asset to managers Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane. "Olivier has been an integral part of the France team for over a decade and his impact on the team goes far beyond the goals he has scored," Deschamps said in tribute to the departing striker. "His professionalism, team-first mentality and willingness to do the dirty work for the benefit of the collective have been hugely important to our success. He will be greatly missed, but he can be incredibly proud of the legacy he leaves behind." Although his playing time diminished in the latter stages of his career, Giroud remained a positive and influential presence in the dressing room, mentoring younger players and ensuring the team's winning mentality remained intact. His selflessness and commitment to the team's philosophy made him a beloved figure among French fans, who appreciated his tireless efforts and unwavering loyalty to the national cause.
“I am incredibly proud to have represented my country for over a decade,” Giroud said in his retirement statement. “Wearing the blue jersey has been an honour and a privilege, and I will cherish the memories of our triumphs and shared experiences for the rest of my life. This decision has not been easy, but I believe it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation take the team forward.” As Giroud moves on to the next chapter of his career, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy as one of the most celebrated and respected French international players of his generation. His contributions to the team’s success will not soon be forgotten, and his selfless, team-oriented approach will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to aspiring young footballers across the country.
