September 30th marks Giroud's 40th birthday. On this occasion, the French forward was interviewed by L'Équipe. In the first part of the interview (which was divided into four sections due to its length), he discussed his current physical condition.

Did you have any reservations about returning to play in France?

"Reservations" is hardly in my vocabulary, but those close to me gave me two very different perspectives. Some said: "People will remember everything you did for Montpellier and for the French national team."

Others worried that my career wouldn't end well. As a competitive athlete, you always fear that year when you can't perform anymore, but you never know when it will arrive. However, coming to Lille was one of the best decisions of my life.

This club, this region – everything about it fits me perfectly. Of course, there were risks involved, but I was ready to continue enduring physical challenges and keep improving myself. Even at 40, one can still make progress.

When you were starting out, what did a 40-year-old player mean to you?

I started my professional career in 2006. My role models then were Baresi and Maldini, who played until they were 38 or 39. To me back then, they seemed like aliens. We didn't have as many ways to extend our careers as we do now. Maldini was a role model for discipline and lifestyle. To maintain a professional career, you have to make sacrifices in daily life, and this is reflected in your physical condition.

How did you view the veteran players in the dressing room when you were younger?

I had an excellent role model, whom I recently discussed with Bentaleb, Lille's midfielder – Akrour, the Algerian international, who earned 18 caps for the national team and scored 6 goals.

When I started out, I was about eighteen or nineteen, and he was 31 or 32. He played until he was almost fifty. His professionalism was admirable; he was lean and strong, and he was also the player who ran the most in the whole team.

I thought to myself at the time: "He's 32, so he only has a few more years left." But when I returned from my loan spell at Istres (French National Championship) in 2008, he was still the team's top striker. I then thought: "My goodness, how old is he going to play until?"

It's often said that your body is a testament to years of battling on the field. What does the body of a 40-year-old starting striker look like?

Just last Wednesday, I had a joint injection of either hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids to help with recovery and reduce inflammation. Yes, both my ankles have suffered extensively from injuries; the ligaments in my right ankle are almost completely worn out, so it's always swollen.

The young players in the team even tease me about it: "Why is your right ankle swollen like a tennis ball?" I reply: "This is a 40-year-old ankle," (laughs) and of course, my lower back and my knee, where I had a meniscectomy at 19, are also not spared.

My body makes noises everywhere, but you can maintain these parts to keep them going. I can still handle it, but the older you get, it's a luxury to expect to be completely free of injuries.

Which is more challenging, the physical or the mental aspect?

It varies from person to person. Take Ibrahimovic as an example; I worked with him in Milan. He played until he was 41, and his knees eventually told him to stop. But I've talked to him, and he still wanted to keep playing.

On the mental side, the most important thing is determination – the will to constantly make sacrifices out of love for the game and to stick to daily activation training. The young players at Lille already have a good mindset, but even at their age, this day-in, day-out routine can make you feel exhausted.

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