Olivier Giroud scores goals, as he has done throughout his career.
On Sunday, Giroud demonstrated his timeless finishing abilities once more, passing the legendary Thierry Henry to become France’s all-time leading striker.
His first-half goal against Poland gave him 52 goals in the Les Bleus jersey, cementing his place in history as France continued their World Cup defense in Qatar.
Many would not have imagined this a few years ago, with Giroud regarded but never spoken in the same breath as some of France’s other attacking studs.
When it comes to the national team, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, and even Antoine Griezmann frequently steal the show.
Giroud is seen as a less sexy name, which is quite a contradiction given that the Milan striker possesses the most stunning hair in global football.
The figures, however, do not deceive, as the 36-year-old now leads the world champs in scoring. Above Henry, there are Platini, Griezmann, Trezeguet, and others.
He joined Arsenal after making a name for himself as the man who led Montpellier to a shock Ligue 1 title win in 2011-12, scoring 21 goals in 36 appearances.
Giroud’s Premier League career featured ups and downs, but he still scored 105 goals for Arsenal in five and a half seasons before heading across London to Chelsea and scoring 39 more in three and a half years.
Even after moving to Serie A and Milan, some remained skeptical of Giroud, despite the fact that he scored 11 goals in 29 league games in his debut season, helping the Rossoneri win their first Scudetto since 2010-11.
This season, he has nine goals in 19 appearances across all competitions for his club, and he has maintained that momentum into the World Cup.
When injured Benzema was ruled out of Qatar 2022, France fans panicked, knowing that this year’s Ballon d’Or winner would not be there to assist them defend their championship from Russia 2018.
Benzema, on the other hand, was not in Russia. Giroud had been.
Giroud’s presence up front may not have resulted in any goals or shots on goal in that tournament, despite playing 546 minutes, but he more than played his part.
Giroud was an ideal foil for Mbappe, who thrived off the big man’s hold-up play, as did Griezmann when France won the World Cup for the second time, with Giroud creating seven opportunities from open play and registering one assist.
Giroud, on the other hand, appears to be more focused on being the primary man in front of goal this time, and he is already putting himself in contention for the Golden Boot, with the record-breaking strike being his third in Qatar.
He may never be considered for the Ballon d’Or, and he is unlikely to be on many people’s lists of the best French footballers of all time.
But, with his 52nd international goal coming in his 117th appearance, there is no doubting that Giroud scores goals, and currently more than anybody else in France’s history.
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