Veteran French striker Olivier Giroud has confirmed that he intends to retire at Lille, describing the Ligue 1 side as “most certainly” the last club of his illustrious career.
The 39-year-old, who rejoined the French top flight during the summer after a stint with Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer (MLS), remains France’s all-time leading goal scorer. Despite Lille’s mixed form this season, Giroud says he is determined to finish his career on a strong note.
Speaking on RMC’s After Foot, the 2018 World Cup winner stated:
“I’m focusing on this year, making sure it goes well, and we’ll take stock at the end. Lille is most certainly my last club.”
Giroud, who will turn 40 in 2026, has scored three goals in eight appearances so far this season, proving his enduring quality.
Giroud’s journey to football stardom began modestly at Grenoble, Istres, and Tours before breaking through at Montpellier, where he won the Ligue 1 title and Golden Boot in 2012. His success opened the door to spells in England and Italy, earning major honours with Arsenal, Chelsea, and AC Milan.
During his brief time in MLS with LAFC, he netted five goals and provided three assists in 37 appearances, contributing to the team’s U.S. Open Cup triumph and Club World Cup qualification.
Now back in France, Giroud’s experience and leadership have been vital for Lille, especially following the departure of star forward Jonathan David.
Lille currently sit seventh in Ligue 1 after drawing 1–1 with Paris Saint-Germain and suffering consecutive losses to Lyon and Lens. However, their Europa League win against Roma offered a morale boost.
As the club targets European qualification, Giroud is determined to lead by example one last time, bringing his two-decade-long professional journey full circle from Montpellier to Milan, and now, back home to France.
Advertisement
