Kylian Mbappe scored twice to fire France to a 3-1 win over Senegal in their World Cup 2026 opener, breaking the all-time France scoring record in the process and taking his place among the tournament’s early stars.
Mbappe’s goals took his international tally to 58, moving him past Thierry Henry‘s long-standing record of 51 and making him the highest scorer in French football history. He entered the match one behind Henry and left it having owned the record outright.
His first came in the 66th minute from a pass by Michael Olise, who slipped him through on goal with the match still in the balance at 1-0. His second, deep in stoppage time, was a long-range effort struck into the top corner with the kind of precision that has defined his career.
Bradley Barcola scored France’s second goal in the 82nd minute to extend the lead before Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal in stoppage time. The final score of 3-1 gave France three points and a comfortable goal difference at the top of the group.
Mbappe now has 14 World Cup goals across his career, moving within two of Miroslav Klose’s all-time record. With France expected to advance deep into the tournament, that record is well within reach.
Senegal played with energy and tested France in the first half, but the technical gap between the sides showed in the final third. The West African side will need to regroup for their remaining group games if they are to reach the knockout rounds.
France’s squad for this tournament blends experienced performers with younger players who came through under Didier Deschamps. Mbappe and Barcola both showed the attacking quality that makes France one of the favourites for the title. Their World Cup campaign is now firmly underway.
In the same group, Norway beat Iraq 4-1 on the same matchday, putting pressure on France to maintain their winning momentum. A strong goal difference could matter in a competitive group.
The record Mbappe claimed on Monday belongs to him alone now. Henry’s mark stood for over a decade and was long seen as untouchable, given how long French strikers had tried and fallen short. Mbappe passed it in his 90th international appearance, having first broken into the squad as a teenager in 2017. More details on the tournament’s biggest matches are in our global news roundup.
Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye scored what was only a consolation, but it gave the West African supporters something to hold onto as their side faces a difficult road through the group. France face their next group opponent with confidence, momentum, and a record that now belongs entirely to their captain.
