Mbappé scores twice, France beats Senegal 3-1 in World Cup opener amid penalty controversy

Kylian Mbappé once again proved his status as a decisive player on the world stage, scoring twice to guide France to a 3-1 victory over Senegal in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The game, held at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, one of the tournament's main venues, was a tougher contest than the final score suggests.

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He needed one opportunity to tip the balance and score his 13th World Cup goal.

France started the match sluggishly but managed to recover and secure a crucial three points. Mbappé broke the deadlock in the second half, netting his 13th World Cup goal. Despite a previously understated performance in the first half, the French captain demonstrated his world-class ability by converting an opportunity to put his team ahead.

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A player made for the World Cups.

He later added a second goal, bringing his World Cup tally to 14, placing him just two goals behind Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16. The second goal came after substitute Bradley Barcola increased France's lead to 2-0 in the 79th minute, before Senegal managed to pull one back.

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The attacker from Real Madrid took the ball on the right, gained speed, and entered the area with one of those accelerations that usually end in dangerous situations.

The match also saw a moment of controversy when Mbappé went down in the penalty area after a challenge from Senegal's Sadio Mané. Mbappé appealed for a penalty, and the referee was called to the VAR monitor to review the incident. The VAR officials determined that a penalty should be awarded, adding another talking point to an already dramatic encounter.

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The French attacker claimed an immediate foul.