Historic Mbappé: Brace Against Senegal Makes Him France's Top Scorer

Kylian Mbappé achieved a historic milestone on June 16, 2026, becoming France's all-time leading scorer with two goals against Senegal in their 2026 World Cup debut. The Real Madrid forward's performance not only broke Olivier Giroud's national record but also propelled him into elite World Cup scoring territory.

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If I started playing just to silence mouths, I think I would have to play until I'm 80.

With his brace, Mbappé now has 58 goals for France in 99 appearances, surpassing Giroud's 57 goals in 137 matches. In the World Cup itself, his two goals brought his total to 14, surpassing Just Fontaine's previous French record of 13. He is now second only to Miroslav Klose (16) and Ronaldo Nazário (15) in the all-time World Cup scoring list.

Following the 3-1 victory, Mbappé addressed criticism and media pressure with characteristic flair. When asked if he was settling a score with his detractors, he responded ironically, "If I started playing just to silence mouths, I think I would have to play until I'm 80." He emphasized that his focus is on playing, not on silencing doubters.

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I don't think we are at full performance yet, but it's important to start well.

Despite the celebratory atmosphere and his personal achievements, Mbappé maintained a cautious outlook. He acknowledged that France is not yet at peak performance but stressed the importance of a strong start. Referencing the unexpected results for other favorites like Spain and Brazil, he added, "We have seen that starting with a win is complicated. It is only the first game of the group stage. We must maintain calm and serenity."

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We have seen that starting with a win is complicated. It is only the first game of the group stage. We must maintain calm and serenity.