Kylian Mbappe promises to make history after a record night for France
Kylian Mbappe said he wants to leave a lasting mark on French football after becoming his country’s all-time top scorer in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The France captain scored twice in New Jersey, including a stunning stoppage-time strike to break 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. Mbappe made it clear after the match that the personal bests are secondary to his ultimate ambition to help France win another World Cup.
“I play to leave a mark in the history of my country and help my team win the World Cup,” Mbappe told reporters.
“I think we’re not quite fired up yet. But it’s always good to start a tournament with a win. That gives you a little more peace of mind, even if you’re never completely relaxed at the World Cup.”
Mbappe’s brace took him to 58 international goals for France, while also taking him to 14 World Cup goals overall. He moved ahead of Lionel Messi and French great Just Fontaine in the tournament’s scoring table and leveled with German legend Gerd Muller, with only Miroslav Klose ahead of him.
“If I started playing to prove something to all the people who criticize me and shut me up, I’ll pay until I’m 80 years old, but I’ll play to make history for my country and make sure my team gets to the final.”
Kylian Mbappe after his incredible performance today pic.twitter.com/ZnCtveWkKx— Oyindamola (@dammiedammie35) June 16, 2026
HOW DID MBAPPE BREAK THE RECORD?
The record night did not start smoothly for the France captain.
Senegal were the brighter side in the opening half and created the better chances through Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr. Jackson hit the post after a quick counter-attack, while Sarr missed a golden chance just before the break to concede the goal.
Mbappe, meanwhile, found little joy against Senegal’s disciplined defensive set-up and was largely kept quiet during the opening 45 minutes.
After the break, the game changed.
Michael Olise unlocked Senegal’s defense with a perfectly balanced pass in the 66th minute and Mbappe timed his run superbly before finishing past Edouard Mendy to break the deadlock. Bradley Barcola doubled France’s advantage later in the game 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 say. The France captain collected the ball almost 30 yards from goal and unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner to seal the win and break Giroud’s record in spectacular fashion. Mbappe celebrates against Senegal (Photo Reuters)
CAN MBAPPE LEAD FRANCIS TO WORLD 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 lucky not to find themselves in stoppage time after Senegal wasted several promising chances. However, their quality eventually shone through after the break as France produced a far more clinical display.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw lamented his side’s missed opportunities and admitted his side should have gone into half-time with the lead.
France are now in a strong position ahead of the rest of their group stage campaign, while Iraq and Norway face each other later on Tuesday in their next group game.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
17 Jun 2026 06:37 IST