Kylian Mbappe vows to make history after record-breaking night for France
FIFA World Cup 2026: Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France beat Senegal 3-1 in New Jersey and set a new national scoring record. He said the milestone matters less than helping France improve and chase another World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe said he wants to leave a lasting mark on French football after becoming his country's all-time leading goalscorer in France's 3-1 victory over Senegal at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The France captain scored twice in New Jersey, including a stunning stoppage-time strike, to move past Olivier Giroud's long-standing record.
The milestone came on a night when France had to overcome a spirited Senegal side that troubled them for much of the first half. Speaking after the match, Mbappe made it clear that personal records are secondary to his ultimate ambition of helping France win another World Cup.
"I play to leave a mark on my country's history and to help my team win the World Cup," Mbappe told reporters.
"I don't think we're fully up and running yet. But it's always good to start a tournament with a win. It gives you a bit more peace of mind, even though you're never really relaxed at a World Cup."
Mbappe's brace took him to 58 international goals for France, while also moving him onto 14 World Cup goals overall. The tally sees him move ahead of Lionel Messi and French great Just Fontaine in the tournament's scoring charts and level with Germany legend Gerd Muller, with only Miroslav Klose ahead of him.
HOW DID MBAPPE BREAK THE RECORD?
The record-breaking evening did not begin smoothly for the France captain.
Senegal were the brighter side in the opening half and created the better opportunities through Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr. Jackson struck the post after a rapid counter-attack, while Sarr squandered a golden chance just before the break with the goal at his mercy.
Mbappe, meanwhile, found little joy against Senegal's disciplined defensive setup and was largely kept quiet during the opening 45 minutes.
The game changed after the interval.
Michael Olise unlocked the Senegal defence with a perfectly weighted pass in the 66th minute and Mbappe timed his run brilliantly before finishing beyond Edouard Mendy to break the deadlock. Bradley Barcola doubled France's advantage later in the match after coming off the bench.
Senegal briefly threatened a dramatic finish when teenager Ibrahim Mbaye scored a stunning goal in stoppage time, but Mbappe had the final word. Receiving the ball nearly 30 yards from goal, the France captain unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner, sealing the win and breaking Giroud's record in spectacular fashion.
CAN MBAPPE LEAD FRANCE TO WORLD CUP GLORY?
France's victory ensured a winning start to their Group I campaign, but Mbappe admitted there is still room for improvement.
Didier Deschamps' side struggled for rhythm in the first half and were fortunate not to trail at the interval after Senegal missed several promising opportunities. However, their quality eventually shone through after the break as France produced a far more clinical display.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw was left ruing his team's missed opportunities and admitted his side should have gone into half-time with a lead.
France now sit in a strong position ahead of the rest of their group-stage campaign, while Iraq and Norway were set to face each other later on Tuesday in the group's other fixture.
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Kylian Mbappe said he wants to leave a lasting mark on French football after becoming his country's all-time leading goalscorer in France's 3-1 victory over Senegal at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The France captain scored twice in New Jersey, including a stunning stoppage-time strike, to move past Olivier Giroud's long-standing record.
The milestone came on a night when France had to overcome a spirited Senegal side that troubled them for much of the first half. Speaking after the match, Mbappe made it clear that personal records are secondary to his ultimate ambition of helping France win another World Cup.
"I play to leave a mark on my country's history and to help my team win the World Cup," Mbappe told reporters.
"I don't think we're fully up and running yet. But it's always good to start a tournament with a win. It gives you a bit more peace of mind, even though you're never really relaxed at a World Cup."
Mbappe's brace took him to 58 international goals for France, while also moving him onto 14 World Cup goals overall. The tally sees him move ahead of Lionel Messi and French great Just Fontaine in the tournament's scoring charts and level with Germany legend Gerd Muller, with only Miroslav Klose ahead of him.
HOW DID MBAPPE BREAK THE RECORD?
The record-breaking evening did not begin smoothly for the France captain.
Senegal were the brighter side in the opening half and created the better opportunities through Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr. Jackson struck the post after a rapid counter-attack, while Sarr squandered a golden chance just before the break with the goal at his mercy.
Mbappe, meanwhile, found little joy against Senegal's disciplined defensive setup and was largely kept quiet during the opening 45 minutes.
The game changed after the interval.
Michael Olise unlocked the Senegal defence with a perfectly weighted pass in the 66th minute and Mbappe timed his run brilliantly before finishing beyond Edouard Mendy to break the deadlock. Bradley Barcola doubled France's advantage later in the match after coming off the bench.
Senegal briefly threatened a dramatic finish when teenager Ibrahim Mbaye scored a stunning goal in stoppage time, but Mbappe had the final word. Receiving the ball nearly 30 yards from goal, the France captain unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner, sealing the win and breaking Giroud's record in spectacular fashion.
CAN MBAPPE LEAD FRANCE TO WORLD CUP GLORY?
France's victory ensured a winning start to their Group I campaign, but Mbappe admitted there is still room for improvement.
Didier Deschamps' side struggled for rhythm in the first half and were fortunate not to trail at the interval after Senegal missed several promising opportunities. However, their quality eventually shone through after the break as France produced a far more clinical display.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw was left ruing his team's missed opportunities and admitted his side should have gone into half-time with a lead.
France now sit in a strong position ahead of the rest of their group-stage campaign, while Iraq and Norway were set to face each other later on Tuesday in the group's other fixture.
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