France’s top goal-scorers: Olivier Giroud eclipses Thierry Henry to lead the pack

The France national football team has produced some great players over the years who have gone on to achieve great success during their tenure with Les Bleus.

Among this pool of players are some of the most prolific strikers to have graced the game of football, who have scored a plethora of goals for the national team to etch their names in the history books.

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud heads the list of France’s top goal-scorers, having scored 53 goals since making his debut in 2011.

Giroud scored the record-breaking 52nd goal for Les Bleus while playing the FIFA World Cup 2022 Round of 16 fixture against Poland when he netted the opener in the 3-1 win.

The striker, who plays for AC Milan, broke the decade-long record of 51 goals, which was held by the legendary Thierry Henry. 

The former Arsenal striker, who was a part of their ‘invincibles’ 2003/04 squad, played his first match for France in October 1997, in a 2-1 win over South Africa. His only hat-trick came against Paraguay during a friendly match in June 2017.

Owing to his impressive performances, he made it to France’s squad for the World Cup 1998, where he finished as their top-scorer with three goals in the maiden title-winning campaign.

He was yet again the hero for his country two years later, when he ended as their leading goal-scorer with three goals at the European Championship 2000, which France won by defeating Italy in the final.

Attacking midfielder Antoine Griezmann also features on the list of France’s top goal-scorers, having scored 42 goals so far.

Griezmann’s major accolades with the national team include a Golden Boot award at the Euro 2016, where France finished as runners-up. 

Two years later, he won the Silver Boot for finishing the 2018 FIFA World Cup as the second-highest goal-scorer with four goals as Didier Deschamps’ men won the glittering trophy for the second time in their history.

Moreover, Griezmann made his 71st appearance on the trot for the national team when he played the World Cup 2022 Round of 16 match against Poland, which is France’s record for most consecutive appearances.

Michel Platini and Karim Benzema are the next two on the list of France’s top goal-scorers.

While Platini scored 41 goals in 72 matches, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has netted 37 goals in 97 appearances for Les Bleus so far. 

Despite featuring regularly for the France national football team since making his debut in March 2007, he was omitted from the squad between October 2015 and May 2021 owing to his involvement in controversies.

France top goal-scorers

(*) Active players

Image courtesy: Alamy