The Frenchman hit a new landmark in his career on Sunday night after a memorable performance in Qatar
A section of the Nigerian fans has poured encomium on AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud after the forward became France’s most prolific goalscorer in international football.
Giroud scored the first goal of the match – Kylian Mbappe added two more – as France dished out a 3-1 thrashing to Poland in Doha, Qatar, in a Round of 16 clash at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
That goal took Giroud’s tally for France to 52 goals in 117 appearances and shot the former Chelsea man past Arsenal great Thierry Henry as Les Bleus’ greatest-ever goalscorer.
Record-breaker @_OlivierGiroud_ 👏#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/dcOiLd1SL7
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 4, 2022
Despite winning the Ligue 1 with unheralded Montpellier, the Champions League with Chelsea, the Serie A with Milan, and the World Cup with France, Giroud is not often in the conversation about the world’s greatest players.
This has fueled talks that Giroud, new France’s all-time leading scorer, is the ‘most underrated striker’ in the world.
Olivier Giroud has scored more goals for France than any other player in the history of the men’s national team, overtaking Thierry Henry.
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 4, 2022
◎ 117 games
◉ 52 goals
The most underrated striker in the world. 🌎 pic.twitter.com/4rf0f61UMI
Many Nigerian football fans, however, have deep respect for Giroud. And quite a few took to the social media platform Twitter to celebrate the man who came from nothing to achieve everything through self-belief, determination, and hard work.
Olivier Giroud conquered football through sheer grit, determination, & perseverance. Nothing was given to this man. Everything he's achieved, he worked his socks off for it
— KWEKU THE HUSTLER, FOCUSED ON SELLING PETER OBI (@urchilla01) December 4, 2022
He's one of the underrated strikers of all time but he's been standing tall ever since. Kudos Olivier Giroud! 2022 is far better than his 2018 world cup presence without netting a goal.
— Henry A. Oyinbogbola (@Wandymatics) December 4, 2022
Happy for Olivier Giroud. Never reciprocates the disrespect. Doesn’t give funny interviews. Doesn’t report anybody to any interviewer. Just does his job, takes fire photos and goes home! Best player, 36 or more, at this #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/GkvKaNAvEl
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) December 4, 2022
Giroud would have been rated among the Greatest strikers ever if he didn’t spend a huge years of his career playing for a club like Arsenal.
— LERRY (@_AsiwajuLerry) December 4, 2022
Giroud made his France debut at 25, after not appearing in any of the French youth teams.
— xy (@xyCerebrone) December 4, 2022
25.
I respect the hell out of that man. What an achievement. 116 caps, 52 goals.
Giroud has had a solid football career. He may never win some over due to his style or quality, but that's a football icon there. About time people start to show him some respect.
— Deji Faremi (@deejayfaremi) December 4, 2022
❗️Olivier Giroud is now the highest goalscorer in the history of France with 52 goals. 🇫🇷🏆 pic.twitter.com/TAyxF5FNRW
— 𝚄𝙶𝙾𝙲𝙷𝚄𝙺𝚆𝚄⚡️ (@UgoOsinobi) December 4, 2022
Congrats to @_OlivierGiroud_ for becoming the most prolific player in Les Bleus history as he and @TheoHernandez fire France to the quarters of the #FIFAWorldCup 👏🇫🇷 #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/uaew3EoAc8
— AC Milan (@acmilan) December 4, 2022
Olivier Giroud will hope to continue his excellent form when France face England in the quarterfinal of the World Cup.
