Kylian Mbappé etched his name into French football history after scoring twice to inspire France to a 3-1 victory over Senegal national football team in their opening Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium on Wednesday.
The victory not only handed France three valuable points but also saw Mbappe become the all-time leading scorer in the history of the French national team.
France, widely regarded as one of the tournament favourites, controlled much of the match but faced a determined challenge from Senegal, particularly during the first half.
Senegal came close to taking the lead through Nicolas Jackson, whose effort struck the post before French goalkeeper Mike Maignan managed to deal with the danger.
The African side wasted another golden opportunity before half-time when Ismaila Sarr failed to convert while facing the goal with only the goalkeeper to beat.
France stepped up their intensity after the break and eventually found the breakthrough through Mbappe, who latched onto a precise pass from Michael Olise before finishing calmly past the Senegal goalkeeper.
The goal saw the Real Madrid star draw level with French legend Olivier Giroud on the international scoring charts before surpassing the record just minutes later.
As Senegal pushed forward in search of an equaliser, substitute Bradley Barcola doubled France’s advantage with a clinical finish following a swift counter-attack.
Senegal refused to surrender and reduced the deficit through Ibrahim Mbaye, giving the African side renewed hope of salvaging a result.
However, Mbappe had the final say, firing home his second goal of the match with a powerful long-range strike late in the game to seal a 3-1 win for Les Bleus.
The result places France in a strong position at the top of Group I, while Mbappe further strengthens his reputation as one of the most influential footballers on the global stage.
Olise was named Man of the Match after producing an outstanding performance that played a key role in France’s winning start to the tournament.
