Kylian Mbappe delivered a memorable performance as France began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, rewriting the record books and reinforcing his status as one of football’s biggest stars.
The France captain scored twice in the Group I clash, taking his international tally to 58 goals and surpassing Olivier Giroud to become France’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer. The goals also helped him move past French legend Just Fontaine as the country’s highest scorer in World Cup history.
After a closely fought first half, Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 66th minute before helping France seize control of the match. Substitute Bradley Barcola added another goal, and although Senegal pulled one back late through Ibrahim Mbaye, Mbappe sealed the win with a stunning stoppage-time strike.
The double also lifted Mbappe’s World Cup tally to 14 goals, moving him ahead of Lionel Messi’s previous total of 13 and drawing level with Germany great Gerd Muller. Only Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazario (15) and Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16) now stand ahead of him on the all-time World Cup scoring chart.
While Mbappe grabbed the headlines, another football icon made history elsewhere in the tournament. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, taking his World Cup tally to 16 goals and equalling Miroslav Klose’s all-time tournament record.
The opening round of matches has already showcased the brilliance of football’s biggest names. Mbappe, still only 27, appears well placed to challenge Klose’s long-standing scoring record before the tournament concludes.
France coach Didier Deschamps praised his team’s resilience but said there is room for improvement despite the victory. For French fans, however, the night belonged to Mbappe, whose latest milestone added another chapter to an already remarkable international career.
With France off to a winning start and Mbappe in record-breaking form, expectations are rising that Les Bleus could once again be among the strongest contenders for the World Cup title.
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