Mbappé shines as France defeats Senegal 3-1 in World Cup 2026 opener

Kylian Mbappé delivered a stellar performance, leading France to a decisive 3-1 victory against Senegal in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup, held in Group I at MetLife Stadium. The Real Madrid forward was instrumental in France's win, netting two crucial goals in the 66th and 90+6th minutes.

With his brace, Mbappé not only secured the win for his team but also etched his name in history, surpassing Olivier Giroud to become France's all-time leading scorer. His remarkable achievement places him just two goals shy of Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals.

France extended their lead in the 82nd minute when Bradley Barcola found the back of the net. Senegal managed to pull one back in the added time, with Ibrahim Mbaye scoring their lone goal of the match, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

The match highlighted France's strong start to the tournament and Mbappé's continued dominance on the international stage, setting a high bar for their upcoming fixtures.