Olivier Giroud: Chelsea striker earns place among France legends with goal against Iceland
Giroud scored in their 4-0 win over Iceland on Monday in the Euro 2020 qualifiers
Olivier Giroud scored his 35th France goal on Monday as they secured an easy 4-0 win against Iceland.
The Chelsea ace moved to third in France’s all-time top goalscorer list and went ahead of David Trezeguet.
Samuel Umtiti, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann were also on the scoresheet in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Paris as they continued their perfect start.
Just two names sit ahead of the Chelsea striker with 17 needed to move into first place but he already sits above elite players, showing just how underrated he has been throughout his career.
Check out the 10 top goalscorers in France’s history below.
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10. Karim Benzema – 27
The Real Madrid striker has made 81 appearances for his country but the last of those came in 2015.
=8. Youri Djorkaeff – 28
The forward won the World Cup with France in 1998 and played 82 times after making his debut in 1993.
=8. Antoine Griezmann – 28
One of the current stars of the squad who helped win the World Cup in 2018. His 28 goals have come in 69 appearances.
=6. Just Fontaine – 30
Fontaine played just 21 times for France but scored an incredible 30 goals, including 13 in six games at the 1958 World Cup. That record still stands as the most scored in a single tournament.
=6. Jean-Pierre Papin – 30
Papin played 54 times for his country between 1986 and 1995 and helped them finish third at the 1986 World Cup.
5. Zinedine Zidane – 31
The midfielder played 108 times to get his 31 goals and was one of the heroes who helped win the 1998 World Cup in France.
He also received the Golden Ball for player of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup despite his infamous sending off in the final for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the chest.
4. David Trezeguet – 34
The striker retired from international football in 2008 with 71 caps and 34 goals and having won the World Cup in 1998 and Euros in 2000.
3. Olivier Giroud – 35
The Chelsea striker is not often thought of as one of the greats but his goalscoring record speaks for itself. He has 35 goals in 89 caps and can still add to that tally.
2. Michel Platini – 41
Platini is often regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all-time and scored 41 times in 72 games for his country.
He held the record as France’s leading goalscorer until 2007.
1. Thierry Henry – 51
Henry was France’s leading goalscorer in the 1998 World Cup, with three, and went on to win 123 caps and 51 goals.
