Giroud names his best Arsenal goal as he reveals plan to emulate Ronaldo

The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker admits he is considering extending his career beyond the end of the current season, having returned to his homeland with Lille

Olivier Giroud is open to emulating Cristiano Ronaldo by extending his career beyond the age of 40 next season. The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker joined Lille this summer after one season at Los Angeles FC. And he has scored three goals in his first eight games back in Ligue 1 for 13 years.

And Giroud, who turned 39 last month, said: “It could be one year plus another, but it could just be one, too. You can’t have regrets. You have to live in the moment and be ready to stop it all at some point. But 40 is a number that I am aware of.

"But it will be a group decision, with my wife and my family. It is about being reasonable. If I think that I can bring something and if the club are also satisfied with me, we will sit around a table and we’ll see.”

Ronaldo, who turned 40 in February, signed a new two-year contract with Saudi side Al-Nassr in June.

Giroud, who still has a house in Wimbledon, added: “Lille, for me who is very close to London and I want to live there after my career, it was perfect.”

The ex-Montpellier forward joined Arsenal for £13m in 2012 after turning down Middlesbrough and Celtic. He scored 105 goals for the Gunners - and a total of 270 for clubs and country - but rates his outrageous New Year's Day volley against Crystal Palace in 2017 as his best ever.

"My best goals aren’t too bad,” he told L’Equipe. “The best, that’s still the scorpion kick with Arsenal. With all modesty, we’’ll never see that move again.

"A showman? Not like the geniuses, the magicians, the dribblers like Neymar, the guys who get the crowd on their feet with their moves, but in another way, yes, I am.”

Giroud still holds the France goalscoring record of 57, but Kylian Mbappe is now only four behind.

“He will be 27 (in December) so he still has five to six years, 10-12 matches a season, he can get to not far off 100, and I hope he does,” said Giroud.

The four-time FA Cup winner - who also lifted the Champions League with Chelsea in 2-2021, won the last of his 137 caps at Euro 2024 but would be open for an emergency recall.

“You can never say never,” said Giroud, who made his France debut aged 25 in 2011. “If there is a need, and if I am competitive and available, I will be there.

"But it is really very unlikely. You have to be serious.

“It’s great for Jean-Philippe Mateta that he’s been called up. It’s also a great example that he can taste all that at 28. And he seems to me to be a great person.”