Kylian Mbappé: France's New All-Time Leading Scorer
French forward Kylian Mbappé has become the national team's top goal scorer and moved into the top five of the World Cup's all-time scoring list following a 3–1 victory over Senegal in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Mbappé netted a brace in the win, surpassing France's national record for goals scored with the national side. He now has 58 goals in 99 appearances for Les Bleus.
Mbappé overtook Olivier Giroud in the national team's scoring ranks, highlighting his immense contribution to the squad. Furthermore, his 14 career World Cup goals place him in a tie for fourth place among the tournament's all-time leading scorers. Notably, Mbappé has become the first player in history to score two or more goals in five separate World Cup matches. He achieved his latest such feat in the 2022 World Cup final, where he recorded a hat-trick, even though Argentina claimed the title that year by winning on penalties.
Outlook for the 2026 World Cup
In his post-match remarks, Kylian Mbappé stated:
“We saw from other teams that starting with a win is tough. Every team knows the World Cup is unique; everyone wants to win and create a good image of their country. This was not an easy match. I am here to help the team, to keep going, and to try to write an important page in France's history. The road will be very long, but we are ready for it. I play to make history for my country and to help my team win the World Cup. If I start playing to silence all my critics, I would have to play until I am 80. This is just the first group match.” - Kylian Mbappé
France's next opponent in the 2026 World Cup will be Iraq. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, at 00:00 Kyiv time. For context, Lionel Messi scored three goals in a 2026 World Cup match against Algeria and now has 16 career World Cup goals. Miroslav Klose shares the top spot on the all-time World Cup scorers list with Messi, underscoring the high level of competition among football's elite stars.
Mbappé's success against Senegal opens up new possibilities for the French national team at the 2026 World Cup. His records highlight not only his individual talent but also the overall strength of the team. France, as the reigning world champion, aims to repeat its success, and the opening-match victory has been a positive sign for fans. The upcoming game against Iraq will serve as a test for a squad determined to remain competitive on the global stage.
Following France's impressive victory over Senegal, where they displayed remarkable resilience, fans are eager to see how the team will perform against their next challenger. For a deeper look at France's dominant start in the tournament and the key moments from their opening match, check out our detailed coverage of the thrilling opener against Senegal.