Olivier Giroud is France’s top scorer with 52 goals, overtaking Thierry Henry’s record of 51

French striker Olivier Giroud became France’s all-time highest goalscorer on Saturday after scoring against Poland on Sunday at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. 

He equalled Thierry Henry’s record of 51 goals for France after scoring a brace against Australia in their opening fixture earlier. He scored his 52nd goal for France during Sunday’s Round of 16 match.

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Considered one of the most underrated strikers of his generation, Giroud got a chance to start for France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup after 2022 Ballon D’or winner Karim Benzema was ruled out with a thigh injury. Giroud was selected ahead of Benzema in France’s winning campaign at the 2018 World Cup. 

His goal against Poland came just before halftime, at the 44th-minute mark, as he put the 2018 FIFA World Cup winners ahead. France comfortably won the match thanks to a brace by the Paris Saint Germain forward Kylian Mbappe. 

“I really wanted to score this goal (against Poland). I was kind of relieved after this goal,” Giroud said after the match. “We can move on and forget about this, because so many people we’re talking about this. Now it is done, that it is a good thing. But most important is to score more goals to help the team to reach our target, which is to go as far as we can,” he added.

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“Olivier has always been an important player and four years ago he didn’t score. There were difficult periods for him,” France coach Didier Deschamps said about Giroud. 

 “He was often criticized. But he’s managed to remain strong, mentally strong, and yes he’s broken the record and it was a very difficult record to break. To score so many goals at international level is an achievement.”