Project Mbappe - the road to becoming France's record scorer

Kylian Mbappe has etched his name further into French football history, drawing level with Olivier Giroud as France's joint all-time leading scorer. The Real Madrid forward netted his 57th goal for Les Bleus in their World Cup opener against Senegal, reaching this milestone at the young age of 27 in his 99th international match.

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Congratulations Kylian. I'm happy for him. It's a great finish and we are level now, you need to score another one Kylian.

Giroud, speaking as a pundit for BBC One, congratulated Mbappe on the achievement. "Congratulations Kylian," he said. "I'm happy for him. It's a great finish and we are level now, you need to score another one Kylian." Giroud expressed confidence that Mbappe would surpass all records, potentially reaching 100 goals and challenging Miroslav Klose's World Cup scoring record.

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He will beat every single record - the number of caps and goals. I think he can easily reach 100 goals and maybe [beat] Miroslav Klose's World Cup record.

Mbappe's journey to the top, often referred to as 'Project Mbappe,' began in the Paris suburb of Bondy, born just months after France's first World Cup victory in 1998. His childhood was characterized by intense focus on football, with his father Wilfried serving as both player and coach at AS Bondy. Friends recall his early drive to play with older, more skilled players.

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A lot of team-mates ask me about him. For me it's just ambition and confidence.

His mother, Fayza Lamari, a former professional handball player, and father, Wilfried, instilled a strong ambition in their son. Mbappe's path included attending the prestigious Clairefontaine national football academy, where he was initially challenged but ultimately thrived. His adopted brother, Jires Kembo Ekoko, also a professional footballer, served as an early inspiration. Mbappe's dedication was evident from a young age, with childhood friend Rayan Viyanga noting, "Kylian was just school and football. School, football, home."

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He knows where he wants to go, he is a leader and you could see from a young age he was very at ease. He was mature for his age. He is a good team-mate, he is an incredible talent and I think he is a proper leader on and off the pitch.