Olivier Giroud lifted football’s most coveted prize at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but the French striker believes that triumph might never have happened without the lowest moment of his career two years earlier.

There is no greater honour for a footballer than winning the World Cup. Those who have hoisted the famous trophy often describe it as the ultimate reward for years of dedication and sacrifice.

However, behind the glory often lie memories of heartbreak. For Giroud, who played a crucial role in France’s World Cup victory over Croatia in 2018, the joy of that moment is forever intertwined with the pain of defeat at Euro 2016.

The 39-year-old forward has openly admitted that while winning in Russia was the pinnacle of his career, the lessons learned from the devastating loss two years earlier were instrumental in shaping his success.

Giroud was part of the French squad that reached the Euro 2016 final on home soil, only to suffer a shock defeat to Portugal in extra-time.

Despite dominating the match — France had 18 attempts compared to Portugal’s nine and controlled possession throughout — they were undone by a single decisive goal.

The absence of Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who was forced off injured in the 25th minute, only strengthened the belief that France would emerge victorious. Yet, in a stunning twist, Eder’s long-range strike sealed a 1-0 win for Portugal, leaving the hosts and their fans heartbroken.

For Giroud, who was playing in his first major international final, the loss was deeply painful. “As a team, this defeat hurt,” he told FourFourTwo in an exclusive interview. “It might sound strange to call such a loss one of the most influential games of my career, but it changed my outlook. It made me hungrier than ever to achieve success.”

Reflecting on the match, Giroud added, “The game itself was unbelievable. If we played it 10 times, we’d win nine. But that’s football — that’s the beauty and the cruelty of it.”

The striker, who continues to play professionally for Lille in France, recalled the emotional toll of that night. “I cried at the end because it was my first major final with the national team, and it hurt. But I also knew it was the last opportunity for some of my teammates, like André-Pierre Gignac, to win a trophy. Seeing their emotions made it even harder.”

Two years later, Giroud was a vital part of the French squad that conquered the world in Russia. He believes that the heartbreak of 2016 forged the resilience that carried the team to glory.

“From my experience, your career and your success are built on the difficult moments that come before,” he reflected. “I’ve been through tough times, but I’ve always used them as motivation to bounce back stronger.”