Kylian Mbappe officially becomes France’s all-time top scorer with 58 goals, two goals off record World Cup scorer Miroslav Klose.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France launched their bid for a third World Cup crown with a 3-1 victory over Senegal in Group I.
Real Madrid star Mbappe took his career World Cup goals tally to 14 – just two behind all-time leader Miroslav Klose – and Bradley Barcola was also on target as Les Bleus secured all three points for Didier Deschamps’ side on Tuesday.
In a match where France struggled hard in the first half but came alive after the break, Mbappe sprinted across the penalty area to convert a wonderful pass from Michael Olise on minute 66 to break the deadlock.
Then, late in the game, Paris Saint-Germain’s Barcola came off the bench to score the second goal, but Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye, a teammate, responded with a goal in stoppage time.
But Mbappe saved the best for last, as he blasted in from long range in the 96th minute to seal the win and become France’s all-time top scorer with 58 goals.
The decision by coach Didier Deschamps to move Olise infield from the right wing was crucial in swinging the game the way of the two-time World Cup winners.
But it is Mbappe who grabbed the spotlight in what turned out to be a memorable 99th appearance for his country.
Mbappe renewed his extraordinary love affair with the World Cup, in which he scored in the 2018 final as France won, and netted a stunning hat-trick in their defeat on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar.
The 27-year-old Real Madrid striker’s double took him past Pele’s 12, and overtook the 13 of Lionel Messi and fellow Frenchman Just Fontaine.
He is now level with Gerd Muller in the overall list, with only Klose and the Brazilian Ronaldo (15) still ahead of him.
One of the pre-tournament favorites, France, will be expected to build on this to advance to the round of 32, where they will play outsiders Iraq before facing Norway under Erling Haaland.
In his final competition before retiring after 14 years in charge, Deschamps has been cautious about his gifted team’s overconfidence.
Senegal’s opponents used Senegal as a cautionary tale. France entered the 2002 World Cup as the defending champions and favorites, but they were eliminated in the group stage without scoring a goal after losing 1-0 to the Lions of Teranga in their opening match.
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