Olivier Giroud hints at retirement after the current season as the France great approaches 40 following a decorated international and club career

Former France striker Olivier Giroud has hinted that he could retire from professional football at the end of the current season, with the Lille forward set to turn 40 on Wednesday.

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Giroud made the revelation in an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe, saying he believes the ongoing campaign will “very probably” be his last as a player.

“As a player, I think it is very probably my last season,” Giroud said.

“That’s why I’m making the most of every moment,” he added.

The remarks come as Giroud enters the latest chapter of a career that has spanned two decades and included major honours with France and several leading European clubs.

Giroud began his professional career with Grenoble in 2006 before establishing himself in France with Tours and Montpellier.

His breakthrough at Montpellier culminated in the club winning the Ligue 1 title in the 2011-12 season, when Giroud was among the division’s leading scorers.

His performances earned him a move to Arsenal in 2012, where he spent six seasons and won the FA Cup three times.

Giroud subsequently moved to Chelsea, where he added the biggest European club prize of his career by helping the London club win the Champions League in 2021.

He later continued his career in Italy with AC Milan, winning Serie A before moving to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC.

Giroud returned to France in 2025, joining Lille as he continued his playing career in his homeland.

Internationally, Giroud became France’s all-time leading goalscorer during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He scored 57 goals in 137 appearances for Les Bleus before making his final international appearance in 2024.

Kylian Mbappe has since surpassed Giroud’s record at international level, but Giroud remains one of the most accomplished forwards in French football history.

His international career also includes the 2018 World Cup triumph in Russia, when France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final.

Giroud did not score during the final but played an important role in Didier Deschamps’ squad throughout the tournament.

At club level, his honours include league titles in France and Italy, the Champions League with Chelsea and four FA Cup triumphs.

Now approaching his 40th birthday, Giroud appears to be preparing for the possibility of bringing his playing career to a close.

His wording leaves open the possibility of continuing beyond the current campaign, but his comments suggest that retirement is increasingly likely when the season ends.

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For now, Giroud says he intends to enjoy what could be his final months on the pitch, bringing an extraordinary career closer to its final chapter.