French World Cup winner reportedly heading to MLS

Giroud is France's all-time leading goal scorer with 57 goals in 131 games. He won the World Cup with his country in 2018 and made it back to the final match in 2022, losing to Lionel Messi's Argentina. He has won domestic titles in France and Italy and took home the Champions League trophy with Chelsea in 2021.

Recently, Giroud has been playing with AC Milan in Italy. He has built up a stellar attacking partnership with American winger Christian Pulisic. In Serie A this season, they have scored a combined 23 goals.

With big changes expected at AC Milan this summer, it's no surprise that 37-year-old Giroud is interested in making a move. It's also not surprising that LAFC is his preferred landing place because it's also home of his French World Cup teammate, LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

LAFC has been one of the most consistent teams in MLS in recent seasons. It won the MLS Cup in 2022 and made it to the MLS Cup final and CONCACAF Champions Cup final in 2023. 

However, LAFC is off a shaky start in 2024, largely due to its lack of a good scorers. Former striker Carlos Vela disappeared from the lineup, leaving build-up players Denis Bouanga and Mateusz Bogusz alone in front of goal.

Giroud could change that. While Bouanga and Bogusz thrive on the outside of the attack, Giroud is a true striker — he'd sit directly above them in the lineup and serve as a target man for their crosses and shots. An in-form Giroud could unlock Bouanga and Bogusz as chance creators and significantly elevate LAFC's attack.

That's good news for the whole Western Conference, not just for LAFC. 

The West is considerably weaker than the East in 2024 and doesn't feature stars on the same level as Miami's Lionel Messi, D. C. United's Christian Benteke or Emil Forsberg of the New York Red Bulls. With Giroud, along with Bouanga, Bogusz and Lloris, LAFC would finally give the West an answer to the East's star power.

LAFC will continue its MLS season at home against the Portland Timbers on Saturday. Giroud will continue his Serie A season away against Juventus on the same day.