Olivier Giroud opens up about retirement plans

France's greatest goalscorer of all time is getting ready to write the final page of a remarkable football story.

Olivier Giroud, now plying his trade at Lille, has revealed that this season will in all likelihood be the last of his professional playing days. The veteran frontman admits his focus has shifted — these days, it is all about savouring every moment he still gets to spend on the pitch.

• read more: Despite the contract extension, Manchester United believe they can sign Lewis Hall

Giroud speaks candidly about when he will retire from football

The striker opened up about his impending farewell to top-level football just as he approaches his 40th birthday. The body, he says, is finding it harder and harder to keep up, which makes hanging up his boots in the summer of 2027 the sensible choice. Still, the Frenchman was careful not to slam the door shut entirely, conceding only that retirement is "highly likely."

After a stint across the Atlantic with Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, the old warhorse came back to France, joining Lille to give the home supporters one last taste of European football. At Les Dogues, he is more than just a regular presence in the attack — he has also taken on the role of chief mentor for the club's rising young talent.

Giroud stands alone as the France national team's record scorer, having found the net 57 times in 137 caps. With Les Bleus, he tasted World Cup glory in 2018 and came within a whisker of repeating the feat in 2022. At club level, the trophies are just as impressive: the Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea, a Serie A crown with Milan, and — perhaps most memorably of all — a stunning Ligue 1 title with Montpellier.

Hazem Mlhem |

Editorar, en

Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.

Related teams and leagues

Lille

Ligue 1 France