Soccer Player Olivier Giroud Leans on God as His Team Plays for a Slot in the World Cup Finals

Giroud, who also plays as a striker for Serie A club AC Milan, scored for France twice in the team’s opening match against Australia on Nov. 22, which they won 4-2. He also netted a goal in the round of 16 against Poland on Dec. 4 and scored the winning goal against England in the quarterfinals on Dec. 10.

According to Sports Spectrum, Giroud’s goal against Poland was his 52nd in his international career. The goal also makes him the top scorer in French men’s national team history, breaking the tie with Thierry Henry.

In addition to his professional career, Giroud has spoken publicly about his Christian faith. As reported by Premier Christian News, Giroud served as a guest editor-in-chief of a French Christian magazine called “Jesus” in 2019.

“I try to speak about my faith whenever I can,” he said at the time. “I feel I have to use my media profile to talk about my commitment to Jesus Christ and the matters that concern me.”

During a 2019 interview with the Daily Mail, Giroud shared that he grew up attending church with his mother.

“I just carried on, and now I’m seeing a Christian priest studying the Bible together, and I feel like I want to know more about Jesus Christ’s life,” he explained. “And every time I read the word of the Holy Bible, it makes me feel grateful about everything that has happened to me.”

The footballer also noted that he made sure to glorify God after winning the 2018 World Cup.

“I’m very religious, so, at that moment, I just thanked God,” he said. “I was very grateful to have the opportunity to live my dream. To live every single day for me is a day blessed.”

Giroud also has a tattoo on his right arm with the words “Dominus regit me et nihil mihi deerit,” which is Latin for “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,” taken from Psalm 23.

If France defeats Morocco in Wednesday’s semifinal (2 pm EST), they will advance to the final on Sunday (10 am EST), where they will defend the coveted title against 2-time World Cup winner Argentina.

The French national men’s team has previously won the World Cup in 2018 and 1997.

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Julian Finney/Staff

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.