Kylian Mbappé Becomes France’s All-Time Leading Scorer in 2026 World Cup Opener Against Senegal

Kylian Mbappé made history during France’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup by becoming the nation’s all-time leading scorer. The French captain netted two goals against Senegal at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, bringing his total international tally to 58 goals and surpassing Olivier Giroud's previous record of 57 goals.

Mbappé entered the match with 56 goals and marked this milestone in his 99th appearance for the national team. His scoring journey began in August 2017, and since then, he has established himself as a pivotal figure for Les Bleus. Giroud, who retired from international football after the 2024 European Championship, expressed pride in his former record and anticipated that Mbappé would eventually overtake him.

The match ended with a 3-1 victory for France, symbolizing a strong start to their World Cup campaign. This win held additional significance, as it was a rematch of the 2002 World Cup opener where Senegal had famously defeated France. In celebration of the triumph, the Empire State Building was illuminated in blue, white, and red, the colors of the French flag, exemplifying national pride.

Despite a challenging first half, the French team improved markedly in the second half following halftime motivation from coach Didier Deschamps. Defender William Saliba noted, “We were not good in the first half... The coach asked us to be calmer with the ball.” Forward Bradley Barcola added, “We needed the coach to get into us a bit... it helped the whole team,” while also praising Mbappé’s outstanding performance and goal-scoring prowess.

Midfielder Adrien Rabiot reflected on the victory, acknowledging the pressure of opening a World Cup and the quality of the Senegalese side. The French team is now focused on building momentum as the tournament progresses, with confidence buoyed by Mbappé’s historic achievement and their strong start to the competition.