Olivier Giroud has fired a passionate defence of Kylian Mbappé, hitting back at those who brand the PSG superstar "arrogant". The former France striker reckons the 23-year-old is merely misunderstood – a bloke with boundless confidence and an unquenchable thirst for success.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live, Giroud dug deep into his memory banks to recall a moment that perfectly encapsulates their relationship. A picture of Mbappé leaping into his arms after he scored the record-breaking 52nd goal for France against Poland at the 2022 World Cup still brings a smile to his face. "He was over the moon for me, and I'm just as chuffed that it was him who pipped me to the post," Giroud beamed.
Giroud revealed he'd sent Mbappé a congratulatory text message straight after he surpassed his goalscoring record, jokingly reminding him of a promise made when he wore the jersey. He stressed that Mbappé's humility and respect for former players often go underappreciated by those who don't know him personally. Giroud believes the cameras and microphones are sometimes misinterpreted as evidence of arrogance – in reality, just a natural part of being one of the world's leading talents.
The Chelsea and Arsenal legend also acknowledged that top strikers need to have an element of selfishness on the pitch, but he made it clear this isn't a criticism. He pointed to a notable example from the 2018 World Cup when Mbappé "pinched" a goal from him against Peru – an incident Giroud never held against him, understanding the drive that comes with being one of the best.
As he finds himself positioned between Mbappé and Thierry Henry in France's all-time scoring charts, Giroud couldn't be prouder. He's backing his old mate to lead Les Bleus to a third World Cup title and cement his status as a true leader and role model for the nation.
Source: Olivier Giroud