Olivier Giroud and Thierry Henry compared as former Arsenal favourite retires from France

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Former Arsenal star Olivier Giroud has now played his last game in European football, as France were eliminated from Euro 2024 in the semi-finals.

The 37-year-old bloomed into a top-class target man in the twilight of his career, but was a substitute for most of France’s campaign, in which they struggled for goals.

Giroud came on as a substitute as France were beaten by Spain, with William Saliba starting as two excellent strikes from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo consigned them to defeat.

The striker’s incredible International career ended in tears, as this was set to be his final spell with the France National Team, and he is leaving Europe for good as he will now move to LA FC in MLS from AC Milan.

Remarkably, the former Arsenal striker retires as France’s all-time top scorer, ahead of footballing legends such as Thierry Henry and Michel Platini.

Olivier Giroud France record compared to Thierry Henry

Although frustrating with his finishing at times, Giroud was a fine player for Arsenal, scoring 105 goals and winning three FA Cups under Arsene Wenger.

There is no comparison between Giroud and Henry’s contributions for Arsenal, with Henry arguably the greatest player in the history of the club, but Giroud’s France record is remarkable.

Giroud has scored 57 goals in 137 France appearances, and won the World Cup in 2018. Henry meanwhile, scored 51 times in 123 France caps.

Henry won the World Cup in 1998, as well as Euro 2000, and was an integral player in a team of superstars alongside Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane.

Eight of Giroud’s France goals came in 33 games at the World Cup and Euros, compared to Henry’s 12 in 28 appearances at both.

Giroud scored 29 in 55 in friendlies, with Henry scoring 17 in 57 in these games, and this shows that more of Henry’s goals came in higher-pressure matches in tournaments.

Olivier Giroud’s France legacy compared to Thierry Henry

Despite departing as a French legend and the top scorer in the history of the National Team, Giroud’s legacy falls well behind Henry’s.

Both were part of sides which lost the World Cup final, as Henry’s France lost to Italy on penalties in 2006, and Giroud’s team lost to Argentina on penalties in 2022.

Giroud and Laurent Koscielny were also beaten in the Euro 2016 final in a shock home upset against Portugal, but the striker redeemed himself in 2018, playing a selfless role to help get the best out of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

Henry will be remembered as the better footballer and the more influential player for Arsenal and France, but this does not mean that Giroud did not have a fantastic International career himself.