Mbappé Breaks France All-Time Scoring Record With Brace as Les Bleus Beat Senegal 3-1 at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Kylian Mbappé etched his name further into French football history on 17 June 2026, becoming his country’s all-time top scorer in international football after netting a brace in France’s 3-1 opening victory over Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 27-year-old’s double in the second half moved him past Olivier Giroud’s long-standing record, cementing his place as France’s greatest goalscorer across both World Cup and overall international appearances. France’s win came in Group I, where Les Bleus faced a resilient Senegalese side before pulling clear to claim all three points.

Mbappé’s record-breaking goals arrived in what has been a scrutiny-laden period for the French captain, with his form and performances subject to considerable public debate heading into the tournament. Asked after the final whistle whether the display was a direct response to his detractors, Mbappé was unequivocal in his answer.

“I’m not playing for revenge,” he said. He then added a line that quickly drew attention: “If I wanted to silence all the critics, I have to play until I’m 80 years old.”

Rather than dwelling on external noise, the forward made clear where his motivation lies. “I’m only focused on doing my best for my country. That’s it. Full focus on that,” Mbappé stated.

The result gives France a confident start to their 2026 World Cup campaign under Didier Deschamps, who has managed the national side since 2012 and guided them to the 2018 World Cup title. France enter the tournament as one of the pre-tournament favourites, and the Group I victory will have done little to diminish expectations surrounding the squad.

Senegal, who qualified for the tournament under their own considerable pressure as one of Africa’s most closely watched sides, were unable to prevent Mbappé’s individual brilliance from proving decisive. The result marks a difficult start to their campaign as they look to build on their continental pedigree.

Mbappé’s record had been a matter of when, not if, for several years. Giroud retired from international football in 2024 after a decorated career that saw him become one of France’s most reliable strikers across two World Cup cycles. Mbappé had been closing the gap steadily and now moves clear as the outright record holder. The milestone also extends his record as France’s all-time top World Cup scorer, a mark he had already claimed in recent tournaments.

With France’s remaining Group I fixtures still to come, Mbappé will have further opportunities to extend his record before the knockout stages begin. His ability to perform on the largest stage has never been seriously questioned — the ongoing debate has centred more on consistency and leadership, particularly following a difficult club season. Tuesday’s performance in the World Cup opener will offer at least a partial answer to those questions.