mbappe’s historic night powers
France captain Kylian Mbappe enjoyed a record-breaking evening as Les Bleus opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal in New York.
Mbappe scored in the 64th minute and again in stoppage time as Didier Deschamps’ side overcame a spirited Senegal team that had created many chances and troubled the 2018 champions for long periods.
His first goal brought him level with Oliver Giroud as France’s joint-highest scorer with 57 goals, while his second goal moved him ahead of him with 58 goals.
Senegal’s threat in the first half
Senegal made a bright start and opened the scoring in the first 45 minutes.
Nicholas Jackson came closest in the 23rd minute after gaining possession high up the pitch and striking the base of the post. The Lions of Teranga had another chance to take the lead in first-half stoppage time when Sadio Mane cut the ball back for Ismaila Sarr, who lifted his effort over the crossbar.
France struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages, with Mbappe unable to make an impact and Ousmane Dembele failing to take advantage of several promising situations.
Mbappé equalizes with Giroud
France came back with great aim after halftime and finally got the breakthrough in the 64th minute.
Michael Olise fed a pass into the right channel and Mbappé controlled the ball before slipping his finish beyond Edouard Mendy.
The strike gave France a 1–0 lead and took Real Madrid to 57 international goals, tying him with Oliver Giroud as Les Bleus’ joint-highest scorer.
Senegal continued to cause problems and almost equalized in the 79th minute, but Jackson directed Habib Diouf’s lovely cross over the bar.
Two minutes later substitute Bradley Barcola doubled France’s lead.
Mbappé overtakes Giroud
Senegal briefly had hopes of a comeback when substitute Mbeh fired a fine effort into the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
But Mbappé had the final decision. The France captain scored his second goal of the evening a minute later to restore the two-goal lead and seal a 3–1 victory.
The goal took him to 58 points for his country, making him France’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Giroud.
Most international goals for France:
| Post | player | Target |
| 1 | kilian mbappe | 58 |
| 2 | oliver giroud | 57 |
| 3 | Thierry Henry | 51 |
| 4 | antoine griezmann | 44 |
| 5 | Michel Platini | 41 |
Messi’s record also fell
Mbappé’s stoppage-time strike also brought another milestone.
It was his 14th goal in the FIFA World Cup, moving him ahead of Lionel Messi’s 13 goals in the tournament.
The 27-year-old, now one of the leading scorers in World Cup history, added another feat on a night that saw him lead France to victory and put his name in the record books.
Top goal scorers in FIFA World Cup history:
| Post | player | Country | world cup goals |
| 1 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 |
| 2 | ronaldo nazario | brazil | 15 |
| 3 | gerd muller | west germany | 14 |
| 3 | kilian mbappe | France | 14 |
| 5 | bus fontaine | France | 13 |
| 5 | Lionel Messi | argentina | 13 |
| 7 | Pele | brazil | 12 |
