Kylian Mbappe delivered a stellar performance for France in their 2026 World Cup debut, securing a 3-1 victory against Senegal and etching his name into the history books with two remarkable records. The match, held on Tuesday night, saw the French captain rise to the occasion after a quiet first half.
Mbappe struggled to make an impact early on, but the game shifted in the second half. After a penalty appeal was turned down, the Real Madrid star connected with a pass from Michael Olise to break the deadlock. This goal tied him with Olivier Giroud at 57 goals, making him France’s joint all-time leading scorer.
Bradley Barcola, coming off the bench, extended France’s lead with a well-taken goal. Senegal responded when Mbaye pulled one back, briefly reigniting hopes for the African side. However, Mbappe had the final word, capitalizing on a loose ball and slotting it past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
That second goal cemented Mbappe’s status as France’s all-time top scorer, surpassing Giroud. Additionally, with 14 World Cup goals, he now holds the record for the most by a French player in the tournament’s history, surpassing even Lionel Messi’s tally on the global stage.