Mbappé Becomes France’s All‑Time Top Scorer as Les Bleus Defeat Senegal

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Kylian Mbappé became France’s all‑time leading goalscorer last night as Les Bleus hammered Senegal’s Teranga Lions 3‑1 in a thrilling 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I clash at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The Real Madrid forward, who is 27 years old, scored two goals in the victory to surpass Olivier Giroud’s 57 goals, becoming the record holder with 58 goals for France.

Mbappé is now one step closer to surpassing Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16 goals. His brace on Tuesday night leaves him just two goals shy of Klose’s record at the Mundial.

Substitute Bradley Barcola added a goal on either side of Mbappé’s exquisite strikes, moving Les Bleus, who were finalists at the last World Cup in Qatar four years ago, to the top of Group I on three points.

If Mbappé was the star of the game last night with his performance, Michael Olise, who was moved into a more central position after the break, ran the show for Les Bleus. He was the creative hub around which everyone charged. Didier Deschamps’ replacement of Ousmane Dembélé with Barcola was a game‑changer, lifting Les Bleus’ mood and making them absolutely unstoppable.

All talk of a possible repeat of Senegal’s feat 24 years ago in South Korea fizzled the moment Les Bleus found their rhythm.

For a team that arrived at the tournament with a spectacular front line of Ballon d’Or holder Dembélé, European champion Desire Doué, season star Michael Olise, and Mbappé, any opponent was bound to feel the effect of such a positive force.

It was therefore surprising that Senegal succeeded in stifling the game in the first half, where the two Gueyes (Idrissa and Pape) held sway. The full‑backs El Hadji Diouf and Krepin Diatta had plenty to do alongside the aging central defenders Kalidou Koulibaly and Moussa Niakhate.

But the moment France clicked in the second half, there was nothing Sadio Mane and his colleagues could do.

Senegal did make efforts to snatch a possible win against France. Moments such as Nicolas Jackson’s shot that hit the post and Ismaïla Sarr missing glaring chances by falling and hoping for penalties were not enough to upstage Les Bleus on the night.

RESULTS

Iran 2‑2 New Zealand

France 3‑1 Senegal

Iraq – Norway

TODAY

Argentina v Algeria (2am)

Austria v Jordan (5am)

Portugal v DR Congo (6pm)

England v Croatia (9pm)