Olivier Giroud could play Champions League at 40 with new LOSC deal | OneFootball

Olivier Giroud, Lille’s top scorer with 11 in 44, seven in Ligue 1 and four in the Europa League, is expected to extend with LOSC, setting up a 12th Champions League campaign. According to L'Équipe, he turns 40 on 30 September and could play in the competition at that age.

He debuted for Arsenal on 18 September 2012 at Montpellier’s La Mosson, assisting Lukas Podolski in a 2-1 win, then scored his first Champions League goal on 6 November 2012.

He has 24 goals in 64 Champions League games, 12 for Arsenal in 29, six for Chelsea in 12 and six with AC Milan in 23. His latest came on 7 November 2023 against PSG in a 2-1 win.

If he plays from matchday two of 2026-27 on 13-14 October, he would become the eighth outfield player to appear at 40. The list is led by Pepe, who featured for Porto at 41 years and 15 days on 12 March 2024 against Arsenal.

If he scores after 30 September, he would move to second among the competition’s oldest scorers. He cannot pass Pepe next season, whose last goal was on 13 December 2023 against Shakhtar Donetsk at 40 years and 290 days, so he would need another campaign.

A hat-trick, even on matchday one, would surpass Ferenc Puskas, who hit three for Real Madrid against Zurich in 1964 at 37 years and 308 days. A four-goal haul, as with Chelsea on 2 December 2020, would put him clear.

Source: L'Équipe