France striker Olivier Giroud says he will retire from international football after Euro 2024.
The veteran finisher is moving to Major League Soccer when his contract with AC Milan expires in June but he has a job to do at the tournament in Germany before he heads Stateside.
Giroud, 37, is France’s all-time leading goalscorer with 57 and is a World Cup winner.
He has been named in head coach Didier Deschamps’ provisional squad and admitted that it will be his last trip with the national team.
Speaking to L’Equipe, he said: “This will be my last competition with Les Bleus. I’m going to miss it a lot.
“We need to make way for the youngsters. You also have to be careful not to have one season too many. You have to find the right balance.”
Olivier Giroud will retire from international duty with France after Euro 2024.
How many goals will the Frenchman end up on before he retires? 🤔#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/jjX5Dsz7Wq
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 24, 2024
France have one of the best squads in world football, with a host of top-class talent not even making the cut for Euro 2024.
Giroud has been a reliable servant for Les Blues in his 131 appearances and scored four times during the last World Cup in Qatar.
Had it not been for a heartbreaking penalty shootout, he would have two winners medals to his name.
Alongside France, Giroud will play one final game for AC Milan on Saturday before departing the San Siro.
When the summer of football is over, he will jet off to the West Coast and join up with former international team-mate Hugo Lloris and Los Angeles FC.
Giroud has signed an 18-month contract with the club with an option of extending his stay for a year on top of that.
