Olivier Giroud becomes France’s highest goalscorer EVER, overtaking Thierry Henry with Poland goal

Olivier Giroud made history on Sunday by taking France’s all-time top scorer title by scoring against Poland in the World Cup.

The AC Milan striker was tied with Thierry Henry in the fourth game of the tournament in France and became the absolute starter after his goal at the Al Thumama stadium.

Giroud, 36, scored his first international goal in France’s friendly over Germany in February 2012, and over the past decade, he has climbed the ranks, netting his 52nd goal for his country against Poland with a simple strike and elegant to give Les Bleus the lead in the round of 16 clash.

Olivier Giroud scored a graceful finish for the World Cup champions to set a new French men’s record

Speaking to the BBC at half time of the Poland match, retired French defender Laura Georges said: “He’s underrated, it’s true.” You have to give him respect, he didn’t score any goals in the last World Cup, but he has made room for other players. He has been working well, he deserves it.

Pundit Rio Ferdinand added: “He knows what he’s good at and he executes it.”

The former Arsenal and Chelsea player was part of the French team that won the World Cup in Russia four years ago, and was also featured when France finished runners-up in Europe in 2016.

Over the course of more than a decade with France, he has played 116 games, scoring just one hat-trick, against Paraguay in a friendly in June 2017.

Giroud tied Thierry Henry’s existing record with a pair of goals against Australia last week

He has netted an additional ten doubles, including his doublet in a 4-1 win over Australia on Tuesday, which took him to a half-century of goals for Les Bleus.

His 50th goal in international play came five years after his 25th goal, which was a milestone he achieved with the second hat-trick against Paraguay in 2017.

The most goals he has scored against any country is four, scoring against both Iceland and Australia.

Henry broke Michel Platini’s record in 2007 and finished his career with 51 goals for France.

Henry, who is currently Belgium’s assistant coach at the World Cup, scored 51 goals for France between 1998 and 2009. He surpassed previous record holder Michel Platini during a Euro qualifier against Lithuania in October 2007.

Antoine Griezmann is third on the list with 42 goals, one ahead of Platini, while Karim Benzema is fifth with 37 goals.

There are four women who have scored more goals for France than Giroud, a table topped by Lyon’s Eugenie Le Sommer with 86 goals in 175 caps.

More to follow…

Giroud celebrated his first French goal in a friendly against Germany in February 2012