FRANCE‘s all-time leading scorer Olivier Giroud confirmed the end of his international career on Monday, as he readies to begin play with his new club side LAFC in MLS.
Giroud had said prior to the tournament that he would go only as far as France went in the European Championship.
“The moment I’ve been dreading has arrived. The moment to say goodbye to the French team,” the 37-year-old Giroud wrote on his Instagram page on Monday.
France bowed out last week in the semi-finals, a 2-1 loss to eventual champion Spain. Giroud was a second-half substitute in his final game for France.
He scored 57 goals in 137 matches for France and was a member of the squad that won the 2018 World Cup.
Giroud will continue his club career in MLS after he signed to play with LAFC, leaving Europe after 18 years in the top professional leagues in France, England and Italy. He joined LAFC from AC Milan with a contract through 2025. The deal includes an option for 2026.
The striker is best known for six prolific seasons at Arsenal from 2012-18, followed by three years apiece at Chelsea and Milan. He has 285 goals in 716 club matches. His trophies include the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea. He also won the French league with Montpellier in 2012, and Serie A with Milan 10 years later.
